UPM Specialty Materials has extended its barrier paper technology to label face papers with the launch of UPM Asendo 80, a grease-resistant grade designed for labelling applications without the use of PFAS.
The 80gsm face paper is compatible with a range of adhesive types and is suitable for UV flexo and UV-inkjet printing. It is available with FSC or PEFC certification and meets requirements from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) for food-contact use.
The new grade extends barrier technology that UPM Specialty Materials has previously used in its packaging paper range into label applications for the first time. The company said the paper is intended for food-contact and other grease-sensitive applications, including labels for products such as olive oil.
The launch comes as the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food-contact packaging. The restriction became applicable across the EU on 12 August 2026.
UPM Specialty Materials said it does not add PFAS to its papers at any stage of production. Each grade is tested by independent third-party laboratories, with documentation available for converters to provide to their customers.
UPM Asendo 80 has a basis weight commonly used in label applications. The company said its technical team can provide guidance to converters on design considerations when adapting the paper to specific label formats.
Kirsi Lahtela, product manager, UPM Specialty Materials, said: “Bringing our barrier technology from packaging into UPM Asendo 80 gives label converters access to grease resistance that has been validated over years of use in demanding packaging applications. It also helps converters grow and win by opening the door to higher-value label applications.”
