UPM and Felix Schoeller offer customisable barrier

UPM Specialty Materials and specialty paper manufacturer Felix Schoeller have unveiled a joint innovation designed to redefine flexible food packaging.

The customisable, fibre-based barrier solution is engineered specifically for high-demand applications such as chocolate and snack bars, providing a recyclable alternative to traditional multi-material laminates.

The solution will be showcased at interpack 2026 (Stand F29, Hall 8A) from May 7–13.

The core advantage for food and drink manufacturers lies in the platform’s modular approach to barrier protection. Rather than relying on standard, fixed barrier levels that may lead to over-packaging or insufficient protection, the new solution can be tailored to the exact requirements of the product, including:

• Tailored coatings: manufacturers can adjust protection levels against oxygen, moisture, and grease.
• Performance optimisation: the coating solutions are also customisable for specific sealing and mechanical performance needs.
• Printability: the base material, UPM Solide Lucent, offers an exceptionally smooth surface that ensures high-quality branding and graphics.

A common challenge with fibre-based transitions is maintaining production speed. UPM and Felix Schoeller have addressed this through the technical density of the base paper:

• Lower coating weights: the dense surface of UPM Solide Lucent allows for effective barrier performance with less coating, reducing overall material weight.

• Mechanical strength: the paper is engineered for high-speed converting and production lines, ensuring that the transition to paper does not result in increased downtime or reduced throughput.

• Scalability: a range of grammages is available, allowing manufacturers to select the appropriate thickness for everything from lightweight snack wraps to more robust pouches.

Andreas Bergmeier, head of innovation & technical sales packaging at Felix Schoeller, stressed the customer-centric design: “Instead of relying on fixed technologies… we design customisable coating solutions that deliver the protection required… UPM Solide Lucent has proven to be an excellent base material for this”.

Markus Kamphuis, technical sales manager at UPM Specialty Materials, added: “Flexible food packaging is evolving quickly… Our collaboration… enables fully fibre-based packaging concepts that are ready for tomorrow’s regulatory expectations”.

For manufacturers, this launch removes one of the primary hurdles to meeting upcoming EU recyclability requirements: the performance gap between plastic and paper. By offering a solution that is both SBTi-friendly (supporting CO₂ removals and lower footprints) and technically equivalent to traditional films, UPM and Felix Schoeller are providing a clear pathway for brands to future-proof their packaging portfolios while maintaining the integrity and safety of their products.