Helsinki, Finland, November 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Through continuous innovation and collaboration with brand owners, Ahlstrom has identified specific technology enabling highly developed base papers – the key to solving barrier requirements in flexible packaging, while utilizing the inherent advantages of end of life paper has to offer. Ahlstrom has a unique set of capabilities and a wide range of technical applications to enable it to develop some of the highest performing base papers available.
“Paper substrates can be engineered to exploit the inherent value of cellulose itself,” explained Zack Leimkuhler, vice president of business development for Ahlstrom. “Cellulose by itself is a very good barrier, and highly developed base papers can provide barrier properties.”
Paper is an ideal material for flexible packaging applications and already has a wide field of use ranging from good flexibility and folding characteristics to printability. The paper is easily sealable and glueable, laminating well to other structures. In addition, the paper works efficiently through complex conversion processes.
Through their research, Ahlstrom has continued to advance the development of its base paper to achieve barrier properties that are fundamental to unlocking the sustainability benefits that paper can bring to flexible packaging applications. The development and optimization of the base paper considerably improves the performance of the paper in terms of barrier properties.
“The base papers we have developed and continue to advance are the best for creating flexible packaging with combined barrier technology,” continued Leimkuehler. “The end-use packaging applications we have brought to market are the first in the world to exhibit all the attributes needed to replace traditional plastic-based structures. We have already developed and launched the capability to solve PFAS replacement with our proprietary FluoroFree® technology, demonstrating a grease barrier equivalent to historical performance.For example, using this knowledge, we have unlocked the potential to replace plastic-based components in a pet food bag from traditional company with materials that can maintain freshness and storage while providing a curbside recyclable material the solution.”
“We are well positioned to push the boundaries of what fiber-based flexible packaging can do,” said, Robin Guillaud, Executive Vice President Sustainable Development, Innovation and Marketing. “A constant process of innovation, development and core product design is in Ahlstrom’s DNA and allows us to meet the needs of our customers, which in turn are affected by end-user behavior. This enables flexibility across the value chain and speed-to-market of sustainable packaging solutions and continues to position Ahlstrom as the preferred specialist sustainable packaging provider in the market.”
To learn more about Ahlstrom’s development journey, check out their white paper at: https://www.ahlstrom.com/Media/articles/highly-engineered-base-papers/
For more information, please contact:
Addie Teeters,
Marketing Communications & Public Affairs Manager,
[email protected]
Phone. +1-920-766-8304
SOURCEAhlstrom