UPM and Felix Schoeller have announced a partnership for a joint innovation that's positioned to help redefine the flexible food packaging industry. The customizable solution maintains a fiber-based composition that's engineered with the requirements of high-demand applications like snack bars and chocolate to implement an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. The material can be easily recycled and also allows for tailored coatings to accommodate manufacturer requirements for protection against oxygen, grease and moisture, depending on needs.
The new packaging solution from the UPM and Felix Schoeller partnership also prioritizes mechanical strength mechanical strength despite is fiber-based composition to accommodate use in high-speed production lines. The packaging is also built with scalability in mind to work well for a variety of applications ranging from thin to thicker.
Fiber-Based Packaging Partnerships
UPM and Felix Schoeller Partnered for a Flexible Solution
Trend Themes
1. Fiber-based Flexible Packaging - A move toward fully fiber-based flexible substrates is enabling plastic alternatives that balance recyclability with form factor requirements for snack and confection packaging.
2. Tailored Functional Coatings - Coatings engineered for barrier performance against oxygen, grease and moisture are expanding the functional capabilities of fiber materials without compromising recyclability.
3. High-strength Sustainable Films - Reinforced fiber constructions that sustain mechanical integrity on high-speed lines are closing the performance gap between traditional plastics and bio-based options.
Industry Implications
1. Packaged Foods and Confectionery - Manufacturers of snack bars and chocolates face demand for packaging that preserves shelf life and mouthfeel while meeting rising sustainability expectations.
2. Consumer Goods Manufacturing - Producers using automated, high-speed filling and sealing equipment require materials that combine formability, strength and compatibility with existing lines.
3. Sustainable Materials Supply Chain - Suppliers and converters are positioned to scale production of recyclable fiber-based substrates and bespoke coatings to support broad market adoption.