UPM and Royal Vaassen develop alternative to plastic and aluminum packaging

To meet the growing demand for recyclable packaging, UPM Specialty Papers and Royal Vaassen have collaborated to develop several recyclable and food-safe barrier papers for a variety of end-use applications. The newly launched paper, Barryrwrap, addresses packaging needs ranging from medium to the most demanding barrier requirements, including oxygen and moisture barrier properties.

With the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recyclability requirements approaching, it is essential to find packaging alternatives that are recyclable with widely available recycling infrastructures. Paper and board recycling infrastructures are widely present and established to support the future requirements.

'Our barrier papers are a sustainable alternative to laminates and plastics. They offer strong protection with a focus on performance and circularity and are suitable for existing production lines and products such as coffee, stock and chocolate,' explained Mark Gerritsen, sales manager, Royal Vaassen.

'Barryrwrap Everest is our highest performing barrier paper, developed for instant coffee and other dry products that demand maximum protection. The material provides an excellent barrier against moisture, oxygen and light; printing is reproduced with enhanced clarity, and it’s ready to seal on existing production lines. With its fully recyclable paper structure, Barryrwrap Everest is a sustainable and circular alternative to traditional aluminum laminates, without compromising on quality or processability,' he continued.

UPM Solide Lucent packaging paper offers a perfect base for Barryrwrap papers. Easy to convert, it is smooth and dense. This minimizes the coat weights required, while at the same time offering the strength to perform efficiently on high-speed lines. Lighter or heavier grammage of UPM Solide Lucent can be selected based on the application requirement.

'We have tested Barryrwrap in new, demanding applications for fibre-based and recyclable packaging, such as canister-type formats suitable for products like chips or drink powders,' said Mika Uusikartano, senior manager, product portfolio management, UPM Specialty Papers.