UPM and BASF Cooperate on Recyclable Packaging
UPM and BASF are working together to help brand owners, converters and formulators make the transition to recyclable, fiber-based packaging solutions.
The combination of barrier and barrier base papers from UPM and coatings based on water-based Joncryl HPB (High Performance Barrier) resins from BASF and their corresponding formulation enables high-performance fiber-based materials that offer high protection while supporting the transition away from conventional mixed packaging.
Driven by increasing regulatory requirements and ambitious recycling targets (e.g. Regulation EU 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste), the packaging industry is increasingly moving towards a design-for-recycling concept. The collaboration between UPM and BASF demonstrates how carefully matched materials and barrier technologies provide excellent protection performance while enabling recyclable, fiber-based packaging.
UPM's barrier and barrier-based papers, such as UPM Solide Lucent and UPM Asendo, have been specially developed for demanding applications in packaging, converting, and printing. In combination with coatings based on BASF's Joncryl HPB polymers, they enable the development of packaging materials for a wide range of food and non-food applications while meeting high regulatory requirements.
“The transition to recyclable fiber-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,” said 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.
