“It is part of our core competence to come up with the fibres required for structures that are light but also sturdy enough.”
global oil prices and subsequent effects on the price of plastic.” Beamesderfer observes that so far plastic has offered visibility, in very concrete terms. The use of plastics provides consumers with a window into the package so that they can view the contents prior to purchase. But does the consumer really need to see batteries, disposable pens or lighters before purchase? “Now a vast number of purchases are researched, chosen, and ordered online. It is up to the packaging service components of pulp and board manufacturers to continually challenge brands in reinventing their packages for product display that have tra- ditionally been made with plastic components.” Go to the source The quality and sustainability of wood is obviously the starting point of environmental-friendly packaging. Our experts can help board manufacturers to find the best solutions, says Tom Nickull , VP, Sales Services for Metsä Fibre. “When it comes to demanding industries, such as food and beverage, traceability of the entire value chain is very important – and something that the big brands have come to insist upon. In addition, pulp production itself needs to consider the envi- ronment at all times and ensure product safety with certificates.” For Metsä Fibre, having high-quality Nordic wood as the raw material is a huge deal. “We have excellent wood to work with here, yielding clean virgin fibre. The quality of the fibre is developed further by our production process.” Fibre can go the distance Metsä Fibre has made a name for itself with its knowledge of different fibre types. The food and beverage sector certainly appre-
ciates the innovative, lighter structures that have resulted from this know-how. “It is part of our core competence to come up with the fibres required for structures that are light but also sturdy enough,” says Nickull. As for the future of packaging, he agrees that a sea change is taking place; plastic is on its way out and sustainable alternatives are advancing by leaps and bounds. “Wood fibre, as a great renewable material, is certainly one key here. There is a lot more fibre can achieve.” Who needs a plastic lid for their coffee cup? In many regards, innovation is just waiting to happen all around the packaging industry. Matti Salonoja , founder of The Paper Lid Company, recognised the need for a paperboard lid for take-away cups years ago – and eventually decided that he was going to do something about it. Teaming up with a friend Ilkka Harju , who is the Packaging Services Director EMEA and APAC at Metsä Board, Salonoja set out to create a fully recyclable paperboard lid. “We tested the first version of the lid back in 2016 and the final breakthrough came in 2020.” In January 2022, the revolutionary paperboard lid finally hit the market. By summer the sales of the product had reached 20 million units. “Our lid is only 20–30 per cent more expensive than the tradi- tional plastic lid and it cuts the carbon footprint by at least half,” Salonoja says. His pitch has made waves around Europe. The United Kingdom is presently the number one export destination for the “it” lid, with Germany as the runner-up.
Matti Salonoja Founder of The Paper Lid Company, perceives big opportunities in the global food and beverage sector and expects to see radical innovations in the near future.
Tom Nickull VP, Sales Services for Metsä Fibre, sees fibre as a key renewable material for the sustainable packaging solu- tions of today – and that fibre is only getting started.
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