UPM and Paramelt Introduce Bio-based Food Packaging Concept
UPM Specialty Materials and Paramelt have jointly developed a bio-based and paper-based food packaging concept. It provides strong grease protection and improved end-of-life performance, making it particularly suitable for bakery, fast food and convenience applications. UPM’s advanced barrier base papers combined with Paramelt’s innovative bio-based heat-seal and barrier technology deliver a recyclable[1] paper-based solution with the grease barrier and sealing performance required for food applications. The components have been individually validated as home compostable[2],[3].
Our collaboration with Paramelt enables us to offer a bio‑based packaging concept with strong grease protection and proven performance on packaging lines. Achieving this level of grease resistance at such low coat weights is highly challenging even with fossil-based coatings, and the combined concept of our barrier base paper properties and Paramelt’s bio-based coating delivers exceptional performance.
Christiane Laine, Senior Researcher, UPM Innovation
The co-creation concept pairs UPM Solide™ Lucent or UPM Prego™ papers, specifically engineered as a base for barrier coatings, with Paramelt Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383, a water-based coating formulated exclusively from biodegradable components. Together, these materials create a functional packaging solution suitable for a wide range of food products, including bakery, grab-and-go and other dry or greasy goods.
The collaboration demonstrates how the coating integrates efficiently with UPM’s papers engineered for barrier coatings, enabling low coat weights and reliable performance on existing packaging lines, such as VFFS (vertical form fill seal) lines.
Brand owners and converters are seeking scalable technologies that integrate easily into current production setups. Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 is a bio-based and biodegradable coating designed for reliable performance on standard coating processes and existing converting lines, enabling a practical shift toward recyclable, home compostable fibre-based solutions.
Leon Krings, Business Development Manager, Packaging Coatings & Adhesives, Paramelt
Samples of the solution will be available at Interpack 2026 at UPM Specialty Materials’ stand in Hall 8A, Stand 29 and at Paramelt’s stand Hall 7, A02B.
About UPM Specialty Materials
UPM Specialty Materials has over 40 years of experience producing high-performance, transformative papers for packaging and labelling. In APAC, it also offers office and graphic papers. Its global team of 1,800 experts and mills in China, Finland and Germany serve customers consistently and reliably around the world.
upmspecialtymaterials.com
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About UPM
UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonisation solutions and communication papers. Its performance in sustainability has been recognised by third parties, including EcoVadis and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. It operates globally and employ approximately 15,100 people worldwide, with annual sales of approximately EUR9.7 billion. Our shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd.
UPM – we renew the everyday
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Paramelt
Paramelt is a global formulator of waxes, adhesives and functional coatings that support manufacturers across a wide range of industries. From 8 manufacturing sites in Europe, the United States and China, its team of more than 550 employees delivers the reliability, consistency and technical expertise customers depend on. With over 125 years of formulation experience, it collaborates closely with partners to create high performance solutions that enhance product quality, improve production efficiency, and enable more sustainable outcomes.
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[1] The demonstrated packaging materials are certified recyclable according to Cepi/ 4evergreen v.2
[2] UPM barrier base papers are certified as industrially (EN13432:2000) and home (NFT51-800:2015) compostable
[3] Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 is a water-based dispersion formulated entirely with biodegradable ingredients, of which 90% is biobased, certified home compostable PHA; In house testing based on modified ISO 20200 has shown that UPM paper combined with Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 meets the disintegration requirement of home compostability protocols.
