Stora Enso expands renewable packaging with barrier boards

Stora Enso has introduced new barrier boards for paper cups and food packaging, as it continues to remove plastic in packaging.

The new dispersion barrier materials, Aqua and Aqua+, are flurochemical-free and used to produce paperboard for cups and food service packaging without the traditional plastic layer.

The duo expands Stora Enso’s range of sustainably sourced, renewable wood fibre boards, as the company continues to respond to demands for renewable and recycling packaging materials.

While both boards are grease resistant, Aqua+ is also liquid resistant, which Stora Enso said enables optical packaging performance and protection for food in diverse applications.

According to the Finnish packaging manufacturer, the surface of the Aqua products is finished with water-based dispersion technology meaning that not only are the boards grease and liquid resistant, but it enables them to break down in a recycling process like paper, providing the highest fibre recovery and value in recycling.

“The new barriers are aimed at retailers and brand owners who want to improve recyclability of their food packaging to meet eco-conscious consumers’ demands. The materials are suitable for paper cups, ice cream packaging and fast, frozen and dry food packaging,” said Ebba Mannheimer, head of business, new barrier solutions at Stora Enso.

With its new dispersion barriers, the company offers two different baseboards. CBK Nude Aqua is a natural brown kraft board for short-contact food packaging applications including fast food and dry food.

Cupforma Natura Aqua+, meanwhile, can be used for paper cups, available with a dispersion barrier on one side for hot drinks or on two sides for cold drinks and ice cream packaging.

Both materials can be printed and converted on existing machine lines.