UPM Specialty Papers partnered with EvoPak to enable Walkers Chocolates to shift from its traditional plastic wrapper to paper-based, recyclable packaging. The partnership is aligned with the mission of Walkers Chocolates to achieve its environmentally friendly packaging ambitions and reduce the use of plastic in its operations.
The collaboration mixes UPM Solide™ Lucent 45 g/m² barrier base paper with EvoPak’s RCM coating to achieve a fiber-based solution that bears the protection required by the chocolate and other demanding food products. Better grease and oxygen barrier properties of this paper based recyclable packaging are expected to offer Walkers Chocolate better product quality standards.
Since January 2024, Walkers Chocolates has been providing its manufacturing and retail partners with paper based recyclable packaging. The business has rolled this out across a number of its own products, now stocked across major UK retailers and in key international markets.
UPM Solide Lucent is known for being a robust and highly adaptable barrier base paper. Its distinctive appearance, smooth surface, and dense structure give it strong advantages for converting processes and printing applications.
“The printability of UPM Solide Lucent is really impressive and EvoPak’s RCM coating is a revolutionary solution for our industry,” commented Tom Murtagh, Commercial Director, Walkers Chocolates. “We’ve achieved the same packaging line efficiency, maintaining the same speed as our previous plastic packaging materials with only minor adjustments.”
The combined performance of UPM Solide Lucent and EvoPak’s RCM coating, which uses a unique water-soluble polymer, has enabled the creation of a breakthrough recyclable paper packaging solution. This innovation holds the same functional advantages of traditional plastic materials but presents a fiber-based alternative to meet the targets of sustainability.
“We’re extremely happy with how the paper extrudes and the print quality in flexo is exceptional,” said Tom Lock, CEO, EvoPak. “We are 100% happy in UPM Solide Lucent as the grade of choice for our future sustainable packaging development.”
The recyclable packaging solution is fully compatible with existing fiber recycling infrastructure and also supports the circular economy. Notably, the UPM and EvoPak innovation has achieved the CEPI/4EG Technical Recyclability Score.