As pressure on packaging materials increases, the debate around paper versus plastic is intensifying. Yet the decisive factor is not the material itself, but how packaging performs within existing recycling systems.
Paper-based solutions benefit from well-established collection and recycling infrastructures across Europe. Building on this, Koehler Paper develops flexible packaging papers for food and non-food applications in line with established paper recycling standards like the CEPI guidelines.
A key challenge lies in combining product protection with recyclability. Functional barriers, for example against grease, moisture or oxygen, are essential for many food packaging applications. However, not every barrier is suitable for every use case. Conventional laminated structures can limit fibre recovery, as materials are difficult to separate during recycling.
Koehler’s approach focuses on dispersion-based barrier systems engineered to separate from the fibres during the recycling process. Under standard recycling conditions, these layers break down and enable a high recovery of fibres, supporting both packaging performance and efficient recycling.
At the upcoming interpack (Hall 8a / Booth D42), Koehler Paper will showcase a wide range of flexible packaging applications already available on the market – from secondary packaging to high-performance barrier papers – demonstrating solutions that are not just in development, but successfully in use.
