RDM Group’s coated recycled board delivers strength with less weight

RDM Group, Europe’s leading producer of recycled cartonboard, has announced the launch of Vincicoat PLUS (V+), a next-generation coated recycled board (WLC) that challenges the long-held perception that recycled materials are inherently weaker than virgin board.

By leveraging its expanded multi-mill manufacturing platform — including technical insights from the recently integrated Fiskeby mill — RDM Group has successfully engineered a recycled board that offers a 15-20% increase in strength compared to standard recycled grades. This structural leap allows brand owners to significantly reduce packaging weight without compromising product protection.

For years, the packaging industry has relied on virgin fibres for high-stress applications due to their superior stiffness. Vincicoat PLUS is designed to close this gap. With a minimum of 85% recycled fibre content, V+ delivers “superior square stiffness” — the resistance to stress applied during bending in both machine and cross directions.

This mechanical strength translates to:

• Higher compression resistance: boxes can withstand significantly higher top- and side-load pressure.
• Flawless conversion: improved performance during creasing and folding, reducing waste on high-speed production lines.
• Humid application ready: a hard-sized option is available with exceptionally low water absorbency, making it ideal for frozen food and high-humidity environments.

While the industry has traditionally focused on recyclability, Vincicoat PLUS is structurally stronger, allowing converters to achieve the same protective results using lower grammages.

“Reduction has become a top sustainability priority,” the company stated in its announcement. By switching to Vincicoat PLUS, brand owners can achieve a weight reduction of up to 20% in their final packaging. This delivers a double environmental win: it reduces resource demand and lowers transportation emissions, while supporting global goals like reduced deforestation.

Vincicoat PLUS has undergone rigorous external laboratory testing and high-speed conversion trials. It is specifically targeted at high-demand sectors where structural integrity is non-negotiable, including high-speed food lines that require perfectly formed boxes to maintain uptime, plus large format boxes:, ie packaging that requires high structural integrity due to its size.

The launch is underpinned by manufacturing excellence at RDM’s Santa Giustina mill in Italy. By replicating the high-strength performance pioneered at its Swedish Fiskeby mill across its European network, RDM is ensuring a consistent and reliable supply for multinational brands.

“When performance is no longer the trade-off, recycled cartonboard becomes the obvious choice,” says Krzysztof Krajewski, chief sustainability and innovation officer at RDM Group. “Stronger boxes, lighter packs, and a circular solution all come together, giving brands the confidence to deliver exceptional solutions to consumers.”