Stora Enso, a global provider of renewable solutions for packaging, paper and biomaterials, has officially opened its new dry-forming production unit in Skene, Sweden.

This marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to sustainable packaging solutions and represents a major advancement in fibre-based packaging technology.

The Skene facility is the world's largest and most advanced dry-forming production unit, utilising an innovative process developed by PulPac.

Unlike traditional wet-forming, the dry-forming process significantly reduces water and energy consumption, offering a more environmentally sustainable manufacturing method.

The process minimises waste by recapturing and reusing excess material, creating a more circular economy.

The production unit will produce high-performance formed fibre products, such as cup lids, designed to replace single-use plastics in food and beverage packaging.

These products offer a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to traditional plastic alternatives and can be fully recycled and composted.

“Stora Enso is the first producer to successfully implement this new dry-forming technology on a large scale,” said Anna Stenström, operations director at the Skene production unit.

“The dedication of our team and the collaboration with PulPac and other suppliers has enabled us to scale up this innovative technology to meet the continuously growing demand for high-quality and more sustainable products," said Juuso Konttinen, senior vice-president of biomaterials growth businesses at Stora Enso.

"It's fantastic to collaborate with forward-thinking leaders like Stora Enso. We are proud to see dry-moulded fibre powering [the] scale-up of dry-forming, and we remain committed to supporting their success every step of the way," said Sanna Fager, chief commercial officer at PulPac.

By investing in innovative technologies and processes, Stora Enso is driving the transition to a more circular and low-carbon economy.