- Food & Beverages
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Exploring the future of food and beverage packaging
Consumers place their trust in food and beverage brands, making these brands valuable but also vulnerable. For brand owners, making the right decision is crucial, not least when it comes to creating more sustainable packaging. Vaccum metallization is a promising technology, enabling recyclability of currently non-recyclable packaging options. At Billerud, we´re committed to innovating in this field.
Vaccum metallization: A way forward
While plastic and aluminum-based packaging remain common in the food industry, they are being phased out in favor of more sustainable options. Metallized paper offers an attractive alternative, easily recyclable in standard paper streams due to its minimal non-paper content and visually appealing finish.
At just 20-40 nanometers thick, vacuum metallization requires specific paper qualities. For perspective, aluminum laminate is roughly 6,500 nanometers thick, making metallized layers over 200 times thinner. This ultrathin layer is what supports easier recycling, but it also requires a paper with certain properties.
Crafted for vacuum metallization
Billerud has made significant progress in developing machine-glazed (MG) paper tailored for vacuum metallization. Together with paper converting experts, we've created Billerud ConFlex CoatBase Met - a paper designed for cold-cut packaging in supermarkets for charcuterie like ham and salami. This paper builds on our existing ConFlex product family, which has been further enhanced for vacuum metallization.
ConFlex CoatBase Met is a very strong paper made from 100% primary fibers with an optimal moisture content. Surface-treated upon delivery, it allows for direct application of vacuum metallization, effectively reducing a production step. While initially being developed for cold-cut packaging, we also see great possibilities for other packaging types within food and beverage.
Driven by sustainable innovation
New technologies for sustainable food and beverage packaging are evolving rapidly. At Billerud, we're dedicated to driving this progress and the release of ConFlex CoatBase Met exemplifies our ambition. Another example is a dispersion coated ConFlex Repel Pure - a surface-treated paper offering an alternative to aluminum laminate in stock cube applications. Follow our journey as we continue to push the boundaries of sustainable packaging.