UPM Specialty Papers and Royal Vaassen have jointly developed new fibre-based barrier paper solutions intended to replace plastic and aluminium laminates in food and consumer packaging. The solutions respond to the increasing demand for recyclable materials as the European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) recyclability requirements approach.
The Barryrwrap concept, developed by Royal Vaassen using UPM’s base paper, covers a range of packaging needs, from medium to high-performance barriers. These include resistance to oxygen and moisture—critical for preserving the integrity of products such as coffee, stock, and chocolate.
“Our barrier papers are a sustainable alternative to laminates and plastics. They offer strong protection with a focus on performance and circularity and are suitable for existing production lines,” said Mark Gerritsen, Sales Manager at Royal Vaassen.
Barryrwrap Everest, the highest-performing variant, is specifically designed for dry products requiring high barrier protection. According to Gerritsen, it offers resistance to moisture, oxygen, and light, and can be sealed using current equipment. The solution is fully recyclable and intended as an alternative to aluminium laminates.
The barrier coatings are applied to UPM’s Solide™ Lucent paper, which provides a dense, smooth surface for minimal coating weights and efficient high-speed processing. The grammage of the base paper can be adjusted depending on application requirements.
“We have tested Barryrwrap solutions in new, demanding applications for fibre-based and recyclable packaging, such as canister-type formats suitable for products like chips or drink powders,” said Mika Uusikartano, Senior Manager, Product Portfolio Management at UPM Specialty Papers.
The products will be featured at UPM’s stand during Fachpack in Nuremburg from September 23–25, where sample canisters and technical discussions will be available.