UPM Specialty Materials has extended its barrier paper technology to label face papers for the first time under its new UPM Asendo 80 grade, which applies grease-resistance technology to labelling without using PFAS.
The new grade aims to comply with recent restrictions from the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation which came into force on August 12th, requiring label converters serving food-contact and other grease-sensitive applications to use face papers validated to perform without relying on PFAS. UPM Specialty Materials states that it does not add PFAS to any of its papers and each grade is tested by independent third-party laboratories, providing converters with the documentation required for their own customers.
The UPM Asendo 80 is said to be compatible with a range of adhesive types, suited to UV Flexo and UV-inkjet printing and meets the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) requirements for food-contact use. It is available as FSC or PEFC certified, and the range now includes an 80gsm basis weight.
Earlier this year UPM Specialty Materials and Royal Vaassen developed a high-barrier paper packaging solution for pet food treats and snacks, said to be PFAS-free and recyclable. UPM says Royal Vaassen’s fibre-based Barryrwrap concept is designed to meet the strictest requirements including aroma, grease, light, moisture and oxygen barriers.
Back in May Dr. Roberto Pela, business development manager for packaging adhesives Europe at Henkel Adhesive Technologies spoke to Packaging Europe about the company’s recent ‘first’ cold seal solution designed for barrier-coated paper packaging. We asked about the new solution’s attributes, the R&D process and how it relates to PPWR concerns.
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