UPM Specialty Papers and Michelman, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials, have introduced three new structures for high-performance, recyclable paper packaging.
These new offerings, designed to meet the requirements of food contact, aim to replace nonrecyclable, multimaterial packaging.
The first solution, a high-barrier packaging material, fuses UPM's Solide Lucent base paper with Michelman's trio of water-based coatings.
This combination results in robust oxygen and moisture vapour barriers while also providing heat-sealability, making it an ideal choice for packaging-sensitive products such as chocolate and coffee.
The second solution, tailored for frozen foods, delivers strong barrier properties through a potent mix of either UPM Asendo or UPM Asendo Pro barrier papers and heat-sealable barrier coatings from Michelman.
Meanwhile, UPM and Michelman’s third innovation enhances resistance to water vapour and grease due to the latter’s high-performing VaporCoat 2240 coating.
This addition bolsters the existing barrier properties of UPM Asendo and UPM Asendo Pro papers, rendering the solution particularly apt for inner liners in applications such as corrugated cardboard boxes.
All three structures have undergone recyclability testing according to the PTS RH 021/97 Cat II method.
Michelman EMEA sales director Thierry Van Migem said: "UPM's papers provide a perfect foundation for our water-based barrier and heat-seal coatings. Working closely with them for many years has allowed our combined team to increase the performance threshold of fibre-based substrates while maintaining recyclability.
“These new solutions will allow the market to accelerate its transition to more sustainable packaging.”
The three solutions will be exhibited at Pack Expo International from 3-6 November 2024.
Additionally, co-creation guides offering insights into integrating Michelman’s chemistry with UPM’s papers will be accessible at Pack Expo or via download of Case studies | UPM Specialty Papers.
Last month, UPM Specialty Papers collaborated with Unipaco, a Polish flexible packaging materials converter, to create recyclable, heat-sealable salad and herb pot wrappers.
