UPM Specialty Materials and paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller have jointly developed a customisable recyclable barrier solution for flexible food packaging applications such as chocolate and snack bars.
Felix Schoeller said the functional papers are suitable for all three common printing processes: flexo, gravure and digital printing. The only exception is inkjet digital printing, which is currently not feasible, but could be solved by using a special paper, which is also in Felix Schoeller’s portfolio, it added.
The development comes amid increasing demand for recyclable materials and is intended to support the packaging industry’s transition toward upcoming requirements under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), explained the companies.
The solution is described as a food-safe, fibre-based alternative that can be adapted to different end-use needs. According to the companies, the collaboration focuses on addressing varied performance requirements by offering adjustable levels of barrier protection. The concept is based on UPM Solide Lucent packaging paper, which serves as the base material for tailored coatings developed by Felix Schoeller.
“We always start with the customers’ needs. Instead of relying on fixed technologies or standard barrier levels, we design customisable coating solutions that deliver the protection required – whether against oxygen, moisture, grease, or for sealing and mechanical performance,” said Andreas Bergmeier, head of innovation and technical sales packaging at Felix Schoeller.
“Flexible food packaging is evolving quickly, and brand-owners need solutions that deliver both high-performance barrier protection and recyclability,” added Markus Kamphuis, technical sales manager at UPM Specialty Materials. “Our collaboration with Felix Schoeller demonstrates how UPM Solide Lucent can be adapted to different end-uses, enabling fully fibre-based packaging concepts that are ready for tomorrow’s regulatory expectations.”
