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UPM Specialty Papers and Eastman have partnered to develop a new biopolymer-coated paper packaging solution designed for food products requiring grease and oxygen barriers.

The solution combines Eastman’s bio-based Solus additives with BioPBSTM polymer to form a thin coating on UPM’s compostable and recyclable base papers. The thinness of the coating allows the paper to be recycled within existing fibre recycling streams, offering brands a sustainable packaging option.

Esa Saukkonen, manager of packaging portfolio development at UPM R&D, said: “We are excited to introduce the result of our development work with Eastman. Together with our partners, we are constantly pushing the performance of fibre-based packaging. This new biopolymer coated solution, for example, provides a new option for difficult-to-pack foods ranging from confectionary end-uses to meat pies found in chilled-food aisles."

The solution enhances the barrier properties of UPM Solide Lucent and UPM Prego base papers, delivering performance that the individual components cannot achieve alone. It offers excellent heat sealability and maintains barrier protection when folded, making it suitable for flexible packaging. Additionally, the technology is compatible with standard LDPE (low density polyethylene) extrusion coating equipment, requiring no extra investment.

According to the company, the challenge of applying extrusion coatings to paper, particularly bio-based or biodegradable ones, lies in adhesion. The solution developed by UPM Specialty Papers and Eastman is said to address this issue.

Bhuma Rajagopalan, marketing manager of CASE Innovation at Eastman, added: “Through our collaboration with UPM, we've developed versatile fibre-based packaging solutions that are compostable and smoothly integrate with extrusion coating equipment. Eastman Solus additive reduces coating thickness, which lowers plastic usage and enables recyclability of food packaging. These additives have been pivotal in advancing scalable, sustainable paper packaging for brands."

The packaging solution is recyclable according to the PTS method and its components are compostable both at home and industrially.

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