Ahlstrom-Munksjö to develop a new biodegradable flexible paper-based packaging material in collaboration with five partners

AHLSTROM-MUNKSJÖ OYJ, PRESS RELEASE,November 7, 2018 at 2:00 PM EET

Ahlstrom-Munksjö has partnered with five companies to develop a new flexible paper-based packaging solution.

The objective is to develop a renewable, biodegradable and recyclable flexible paper‐based packaging material, by replacing current materials by more sustainable ones, leading to a reduced amount of plastic films. There is a significant market potential, as the size of the flexible plastic packaging market for dry food applications is evaluated at around EUR 3.7 billion a year in Europe(1).

Flexible packaging is widely used in food wrapping, pet food and non-food packaging, and numerous other end-use applications what we see at the supermarkets.

Usually flexible packaging contains a plastic film and/or an aluminum foil, creating an excellent barrier to water vapor, oxygen, and contaminants. Downside in using plastic and aluminum relates to the end of the life-cycle when the packaging becomes waste. In the normal waste management it ends up being either burned or dumped into landfill.

Further information on the project is available in this video.

More about the Sherpack partners and funding:

The European project Sherpack – “Innovative structured polysaccharides‐based materials for recyclable and biodegradable flexible packaging” was kick‐off on June 14, 2017. Consortium has 6 partners – 3 industrial partners and 3 research centers. Industrial partners are Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Cargill, Borregaard, and research CTP, ITENE and ISOF-CNR. Sherpack was selected among 70 proposals in the EU funded H2020 BBI‐2016‐R05 call for projects on “Advanced biomaterials for smart food packaging”.

(1) Smithers Pira, “Global flexible packaging market sees rapid growth”, 2015

For further information, please contact: media@ahlstrom-munksjo.com 

Ahlstrom-Munksjö in brief

Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global leader in fiber-based materials, supplying innovative and sustainable solutions to its customers. Our mission is to expand the role of fiber-based solutions for sustainable everyday life. Our offering includes filter materials, release liners, food and beverage processing materials, decor papers, abrasive and tape backings, electrotechnical paper, glass fiber materials, medical fiber materials and solutions for diagnostics as well as a range of specialty papers for industrial and consumer end-uses. Our annual net sales are about EUR 3 billion and we employ some 8,000 people. The Ahlstrom-Munksjö share is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and Stockholm. Read more at www.ahlstrom-munksjo.com.