UPM and Paramelt Introduce Compostable Food Packaging Solution

UPM Specialty Materials and Paramelt have collaborated to create a new sustainable food packaging solution made from paper and bio-based materials. This innovative packaging is designed to provide grease protection and enhance end-of-life outcomes, making it suitable for bakery, fast food, and on-the-go food products.

The packaging utilizes UPM’s barrier base papers in conjunction with Paramelt’s bio-based heat-seal and barrier coating, ensuring recyclability and meeting the necessary grease resistance and seal strength for food applications. Each component has been verified for home composting suitability.

Leon Krings, business development manager at Paramelt, emphasized the demand for scalable technologies that seamlessly integrate into existing production setups. The Aquavate Bio SB 2383, a bio-based and biodegradable coating, is designed for reliable performance on standard coating processes, facilitating a transition to recyclable, home compostable fiber-based solutions.

The packaging employs UPM Solide Lucent or UPM Prego papers, both engineered for barrier coatings, combined with Paramelt’s water-based, fully biodegradable coating. This finished material is versatile enough to protect various products, from dry snacks to greasy foods.

The collaboration also ensures compatibility with current packaging equipment, including vertical form fill seal (VFFS) lines, due to the low coating weights required by UPM’s engineered papers. Christiane Laine, senior researcher at UPM, noted that this partnership allows for a biobased packaging concept that excels in grease protection and performance on packaging lines, achieving significant resistance even at low coat weights.

In addition, UPM Specialty Materials recently introduced its Forte precoating technology to its SCK release base paper products for the US market, aimed at enhancing efficiency and managing production costs for silicone coaters and labelstock producers.