A fully recyclable, fiber-based foam for protective packaging by Stora Enso
STORA ENSO OYJ PRESS RELEASE 23 September 2022 at 9:00 EEST
Plastic packaging materials such as fossil-based foams seem increasingly outdated in a society that is striving to reduce plastic usage and waste and move towards renewable materials. With regulatory bodies now driving a policy towards limiting or banning fossil-based foam materials in packaging, new solutions are needed.
Papira® by Stora Enso is a novel lightweight foam made from pulp fibers. The semi-rigid foam has a high cushioning performance and is suitable as protective packaging for a wide range of products. Papira can be designed and cut with precision for optimal size and protection, even for complex shapes and packaging sizes.
Papira offers a fully paper-recyclable and plastic free alternative to traditional fossil-based packaging foams, such as polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE) and expanded polystyrene (EPS). It is designed to be recycled as paper, but if Papira exits the circular material stream, it will biodegrade. Recycling of Papira is easy, and it allows the consumer to put the whole package in the same curbside collection bin.
The Papira pilot plant has been operational at Stora Enso’s Fors Mill since November 2021.The wood-based raw materials are sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics and manufactured in a 100% fossil-free production process in which only air and water are used for foaming the material. No solvents, blowing agents or hazardous chemicals are used.
As a completely new material, Papira is currently being assessed to obtain certifications of recyclability and biodegradability. Furthermore, the environmental impact is being measured to quantify how Papira can improve the carbon footprint of packaging. The performance of Papira in packaging applications is tested in Stora Enso’s PackTester lab, an ISTA® certified test lab, to ensure product protection. Stora Enso’s ambition is to make Papira the new standard in protective packaging.
Papira® by Stora Enso is among the finalists of Packaging Europe’s Sustainability Awards 2022 in the pre-commercialised “Renewables” category. Winners of this category will be announced on 14 November 2022.
Come meet Stora Enso at Fachpack in Nuremberg, Germany, on 27-29 September in booth 9:319 in hall 9 or at Scanpack in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 4-7 October at stand C03:02 on ground floor to learn more about Papira.
For further information, please contact:
Ingrid Peura
SVP Communications & Marketing
Stora Enso Biomaterials division
Tel. +358 50 307 0026
Part of the global bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction and paper, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. We believe that everything that is made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. Stora Enso has approximately 22,000 employees and our sales in 2021 were EUR 10.2 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Oy (STEAV, STERV) and Nasdaq Stockholm AB (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY). storaenso.com
STORA ENSO OYJ
For further information, please contact:
Ingrid Peura
SVP Communications & Marketing
Stora Enso Biomaterials division
Tel. +358 50 307 0026
