BOBST and Huhtamaki have teamed up to revolutionize sustainable packaging, aligning their values, missions, and skills to drive real progress. Huhtamaki, a Finnish-based global player in flexible packaging, specializes in sustainable solutions and aims to make packaging more circular. For BOBST, sustainability is integral to its vision of shaping the future of packaging, alongside digitalization, automation, and connectivity.
Both companies recognized the global shift toward sustainable packaging and saw an opportunity to pioneer new solutions. Their collaboration began with the development of a high-barrier, paper-based, recycle-ready solution, validated by Huhtamaki on commercial-scale equipment for the first time.
This partnership has since grown, with both companies leveraging their commitment to sustainability to expedite new solutions. They have created fully recyclable solutions using metallization technology, replacing current aluminum-foil structures and ensuring compatibility with current recycling streams.
BOBST’s competence centers played a vital role in fast-tracking the project. These centers allow customers to view, understand, and test printing and converting solutions, providing assurance that the solutions meet the needs of brand owners, converters, consumers, and recyclers.
Nick Copeland, R&D Director at BOBST, expressed delight in the partnership, stating, “BOBST and Huhtamaki share the same goals around sustainability, and we are delighted that our partnership and the use of our competence centers has helped to fast track this important project.” He believes the new solutions will meet demands for eco-friendly options in both plastic and paper, driving the industry toward a more sustainable future.
The new product range, including ultra-high barrier PE and paper flexible packaging solutions, is set to be launched by Huhtamaki in 2024, offering sustainable options across multiple markets. Jonas Lindh, Head of Global Marketing & Strategic Business Development, Flexible Packaging at Huhtamaki, emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “More sustainable packaging is not a ‘nice to have’ option, it is an essential deliverable for society, and it is through partnerships with genuine innovators like BOBST that breakthroughs in this area are possible.”