New High-Barrier Paper Solution For Pet Food Packaging

The transition from plastic to fibre-based packaging continues to gain momentum, with new innovations demonstrating how paper can meet even the most demanding performance requirements. A recent collaboration between UPM Specialty Papers and packaging converter Royal Vaassen highlights how far paper-based solutions have evolved.

Together, the companies have developed a high-barrier paper packaging solution for pet treats, an application traditionally dominated by plastic due to its need for strong protection against moisture, grease and oxygen.

Meeting Performance And Sustainability Needs

Pet food packaging presents a unique challenge. Products often require extended shelf life and protection from external elements, making barrier performance critical. Historically, this has meant reliance on multi-layer plastic materials that are difficult to recycle.

The newly developed solution uses a specialised barrier paper, designed to deliver the necessary protection while remaining compatible with existing paper recycling streams. This represents an important step forward in aligning packaging performance with circular economy goals.

By replacing complex plastic laminates with a fibre-based alternative, the solution supports:

• Improved recyclability
• Reduced reliance on fossil-based materials
• Lower overall environmental impact

Innovation Driven By Collaboration

One of the key themes emerging across the packaging industry is the importance of collaboration. The partnership between UPM and Royal Vaassen demonstrates how material producers and converters can work together to bring scalable, sustainable solutions to market.

UPM has been investing heavily in the development of functional papers that can replace plastic in a range of applications, from food packaging to flexible formats. Combined with Royal Vaassen’s expertise in converting and packaging design, the result is a solution that is both technically viable and commercially relevant.

Expanding The Role Of Paper Packaging

This latest development is part of a wider trend often referred to as “paperisation” – the shift towards using fibre-based materials in applications traditionally served by plastic. Advances in coating technologies, barrier performance and processing capabilities are enabling paper to move into new areas, including:

• Food and snack packaging
• Pet food and treats
• Takeaway and foodservice applications

As brands and retailers respond to regulatory pressures and consumer demand for more sustainable packaging, fibre-based solutions are increasingly becoming a preferred choice.

A Strong Future For Fibre-Based Materials

Innovations like this reinforce the positive environmental story of print, paper and paper-based packaging. Sourced from renewable forests and widely recycled across Europe, paper offers a proven, circular solution that continues to evolve through innovation.

With ongoing investment and collaboration across the value chain, fibre-based packaging is not only replacing plastic in certain applications, it is redefining what is possible.