International News

UPM and BASF Accelerate Transition to Recyclable, Fibre-based Packaging

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  • Collaboration pairs UPM’s packaging papers with BASF’s Joncryl® HPB, delivering strong protection performance
  • Packaging samples highlighting performance and sustainability benefits to be showcased at interpack 2026

UPM Specialty Materials (UPM) and BASF are collaborating to help brand owners, converters and formulators accelerate the transition to recyclable1, fibre-based packaging solutions. By combining UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers with BASF’s Joncryl® HPB (high performance barrier) barrier technology resins, the collaboration enables high‑performance, fibre-based materials while supporting the transition away from conventional mixed packaging structures.

Driven by increasing regulatory requirements and ambitious recyclability targets (e.g. Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste), the packaging industry is increasingly moving towards design-for-recycling concepts. The collaboration between UPM and BASF demonstrates how carefully matched materials and barrier technologies can deliver excellent protection performance while enabling recyclable, fibre-based packaging.

UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers, such as UPM Solide™ Lucent and UPM Asendo™, are specifically designed for demanding packaging converting and printing applications. When combined with coatings based on BASF’s Joncryl® HPB polymers, they enable the development of packaging materials suitable for a wide range of food and non-food applications that meet demanding regulatory requirements. 

The transition to recyclable fibre-based packaging requires both advanced barrier performance and close collaboration across the value chain. Our barrier papers are developed to support co-creation with partners, enabling new, high-performance packaging applications. The collaboration with BASF demonstrates how combining innovative barrier technologies with barrier papers can deliver functional, recyclable solutions that accelerate the packaging transformation.

Mika Uusikartano, Senior Manager, Product Portfolio Management, UPM Specialty Materials

“The demand for sustainable packaging solutions is growing rapidly along the value chain – from brand owners to converters and formulators. UPM’s premium paper grades for flexible packaging, combined with barrier coatings based on waterborne Joncryl® HPB resins from BASF form a strong and credible reference approach for the development of paper-based alternatives designed to replace plastic-based or PE-laminated structures,” said Rolf Alles, Director of Sales Resins EMEA at BASF.

UPM and BASF at interpack 2026
The partnership will be in the spotlight at interpack 2026, taking place from 7-13 May in Düsseldorf, Germany. The jointly developed samples will be showcased at the fair, illustrating the performance and sustainability potential of the fibre-based packaging concepts. In addition, a wide range of UPM’s and BASF’s offerings for the packaging industry will be on display at the event. You can meet BASF’s Resins team at Hall 10, Stand A44, and UPM’s team at Hall 8A, Stand F29.

  1. UPM packaging papers are certified recyclable according to CEPI v. 2.0 (Europe), PTS-RH 021/97 cat II and WMU SBS-E (U.S.).  BASF Joncryl® HPB line has been shown not to negatively impact paper recyclability according to CEPI v. 2.0 (Europe). Third-party testing of the complete structure is ongoing. ↩︎