Sappi has expanded its portfolio of heat-sealable papers, introducing a wider range of fibre-based materials designed to support the transition from plastic laminates to recyclable mono-material packaging formats. The development reflects increasing regulatory pressure, including frameworks such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), alongside growing demand from brand owners for scalable alternatives to plastic.
The newly extended Seal range includes multiple grades—Seal Silk, Seal G Silk, Seal Pure Silk, Seal Natural, Seal Light, and Seal Lucent—covering grammages from 44 to 110 gsm. Each grade is engineered to deliver specific sealing strengths, surface properties, and visual characteristics, allowing converters to align material selection with pack formats, production conditions, and end-use requirements.
From a technical standpoint, the innovation lies in achieving consistent heat-sealing performance on paper substrates while maintaining runnability and mechanical strength on existing converting lines. The materials are compatible with flexographic and gravure printing processes and are designed to deliver stable sealing results without the need for complex multi-layer structures.
The range also introduces functional flexibility, including OBA-free options for compliance-sensitive applications and translucent variants for partial product visibility. Lightweight grades further extend applicability in formats where reduced material usage is required without compromising sealing integrity.
Target applications include pillow bags, sachets, stick packs, and confectionery multipacks, particularly where low-to-medium barrier performance is sufficient. The papers are designed to be recyclable within existing paper waste streams, depending on local infrastructure.