Fibre-based packaging for frozen baked goods

Frozen bakery products require packaging that easily repels grease and moisture while preserving the freshness of the baked goods. Lantmännen Unibake, one of Europe's largest bakery groups specialising in frozen bakery products for the retail and food service sectors, is actively looking for more sustainable solutions for the packaging and transport of frozen baked goods.

„This new packaging innovation for frozen bakery products would not have been possible without UPM Speciality Papers and Adara; it is an example of how we can reduce the use of plastic in food packaging by working with industry partners.“

Riikka Salokannel, Packaging Development Manager, Lantmännen Unibake Finland

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UPM Asendo is used for the new solution, a Recyclable and household and industrially compostable barrier paper with good grease and moisture resistance, which is suitable for direct contact with food. It is particularly suitable for dry, chilled and frozen foods, bread bags and non-food packaging.

UPM Asendo replaces fossil-based material with a wood-based, renewable and recyclable packaging material. As the paper does not need to be laminated, steps in the packaging production process are eliminated. Without a plastic coating, the paper packaging can also be  disposed of together with other paper waste become.

„Lantmännen Unibake and an external food industry development company conducted thorough tests and analyses on the effects of the packaging materials on the taste of the frozen bread; as a result, UPM Asendo was chosen as the inner lining for the carton. The food-safe barrier layer of UPM Asendo paper has proven to be grease and moisture resistant while ensuring food safety.“

Kirsi Lahtela, Product Manager, UPM Speciality Papers

The third partner is Adara, a manufacturer of corrugated cardboard and corrugated cardboard packaging. „It was great to work on a project that involved jointly developing a more sustainable packaging solution for baked goods, taking into account the entire value chain. The findings from this project can be transferred to other product categories in the future„ emphasises Mikko Järvinen, Manufacturing and Development Manager, Adara.

Source: UPM