UPM Specialty Materials and Felix Schoeller have jointly introduced a recyclable, fibre-based barrier solution designed for flexible food packaging applications such as chocolate and snack bar wrappers. Built on UPM Solide Lucent packaging paper, the newly developed structure allows for tailored barrier performance depending on specific product requirements, positioning it as a flexible option for manufacturers navigating evolving sustainability demands.
The companies stated that the food-contact-safe material is intended to support industry readiness for recyclability requirements outlined in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The fibre barrier packaging solution has been engineered to deliver adaptable levels of protection, enabling packaging converters to address varying needs across oxygen, moisture, grease resistance, sealing, and mechanical strength. The approach focuses on replacing fixed barrier formats with customisable coating systems that can be adjusted to suit different end-use scenarios.
Felix Schoeller innovation and technical sales packaging head Andreas Bergmeier said: “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. “UPM Solide Lucent has proven to be an excellent base material for this. It runs reliably on our coating lines, offers well-balanced mechanical performance, and delivers outstanding printability. This enables solutions that truly protect what matters.” According to UPM, the base paper has been optimised for “easy converting,” with a smooth and dense surface that allows for lower coating weights without compromising operational strength on high-speed production lines.
UPM Specialty Materials technical sales manager Markus Kamphuis said: “Flexible food packaging is evolving quickly, and brand-owners need solutions that deliver both high-performance barrier protection and recyclability. “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.” The fibre barrier packaging material is available in multiple grammages to meet diverse application requirements. In a separate development last month, UPM Specialty Materials also partnered with Paramelt to create a sustainable food packaging solution combining paper with bio-based materials to deliver grease resistance.