New cardboard material for paper cups does not require a plastic layer

Stora Enso has a new cardboard material for paper cups that does not require the conventional plastic layer. The „Cupforma Natura Solo“ material is suitable for hot and cold drinks cups as well as for ice cream packaging.

16 May 2019

Cupforma Natura Solo from Stora Enso (Image: Valtteri Kantanen)

Stora Enso and Huhtamaki want to promote the recycling of paper cups with The Cup Collective. (Image: Valtteri Kantanen)

Stora Enso has a new cardboard material for paper cups that does not require the conventional plastic layer. According to the Scandinavian company, the „Cupforma Natura Solo“ material is suitable for hot and cold drinks cups as well as for ice cream packaging.

The new material Cupforma Natura Solo is completely recyclable, emphasises Stora Enso out. The company has been developing and producing paper cups for many years and is one of the leading suppliers in this segment. Building on this experience, the new cardboard material was developed and is being touted as a sustainable alternative to previous solutions.

„There is a strong demand for environmentally friendly solutions for food service packaging today,“ explains Hannu Kasurinen, Senior Vice President of Liquid Packaging and Carton Board in Stora Enso's Consumer Board Division, „Consumers want the most practical but still Sustainable packaging. The recycling process halves the CO₂-footprint of food service packaging, and the entire value chain ultimately benefits from innovations in the field of renewable materials.“

Tests confirm good material properties

According to the company press release, the market launch of the new material was preceded by extensive tests. The tests showed that cups made from Cupforma Natura Solo behave in a similar way to conventional cups made with Polyethylene lined paper cups. The recycling properties of the product are favourable. The existing Barrier layer dissolves in the recycling process. All fibres could then be recycled.

Stora Enso offers various barrier coatings for the cup cartons for different applications. In addition to the new cardboard material, the portfolio also includes the completely renewable „Natura PE Green“ and the industrially compostable „Cupforma Natura Organic“.

Stora Enso emphasises that all of the Wood fibres come from sustainably managed forests. In order to Traceability and sustainability of forest management, forest certification systems would be used.

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You can find more information about Stora Enso on the Company homepage.

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