A joint venture between BillerudKorsnas and FibreForm Packaging has developed a new material that is claimed to be an alternative to plastic.
The development is said to be the first 3D strechable paper and is targeting the packaging sector. It is made from 100% primary fibres and can be bent and stretched. The sides of a package can be macro formed.
According to paper manufacturer BillerudKorsnas the material can be used as an alternative to plastic that can be used existing thermoforming equipment to produce applications like trays used in the food industry. The foodservice sector is also targeted, as the paper manufactuer said that the material can be used as an insulation on paper cups.
FibreForm Packaging was founded in 2013 in Norrkaping in Sweden. It offers a inline form-fill-seal packaging system, called the FreeFormPack, based on two technologies: the FibreForm mouldable paper and the PAM/BOM moulding machine, originally from partner Curti.