Stora Enso is investing in the development of biobased protective barriers on paperboard in Sweden. The company looks to minimize the use of fossil-based materials in paperboard coating.
Stora Enso is investing in dispersion technology at its Forshaga site, to replace fossil barrier materials with solutions based on renewable wood fibre.
Paperboards used in liquid packagings, beverage cups and certain types of food packaging, for example, require a barrier which both protects the product inside and prevents the packaging from deteriorating.
Among other things, the barrier stops liquids, moisture, oxygen or grease from permeating the paperboard. A frequent solution is to coat the paperboard with a thin film, typically of plastic or a biodegradable material.
Stora Enso’s new technology, based solely on wood fibre, enables the development of protective barriers that have a smaller carbon footprint, are easier to recycle and can be industrially composted.
‘We want to introduce new materials which are compatible with food products and have a smaller carbon footprint and better recyclability,’ says Hannu Kasurinen, EVP of Stora Enso’s Packaging Materials division.
´The EUR 10 million investment at the Forshaga site near Karlstad, Sweden, is part of Stora Enso’s innovation agenda. Production of the new barrier using the technology being developed is scheduled to begin in Q2 2021.
2 comments on “New wood-based barrier solutions for paperboard”
/ Rudolf Wijnans
What would be the price versus fossile based solution? I would be very interested if this could replace plastic covers of packages (moulded timber) without forgetting that the package must protect during transport and storage (eg 2 months in the open air = rain & UV) and also, be printable for logo, for example.
/ Hannes Mäntyranta
Thanks for the question. I do not know any details as to your question but the product surely is compatible with all needs for a package, otherwise it would not be on the market. The company surely will give additional answers (contact information above and on the right).