Henkel enables recycling-compatible packaging
In response to growing market demand, Henkel has expanded and optimized its paper coatings portfolio, offering solutions that deliver reliable barrier performance for primary and secondary packaging.
Henkel Adhesive Technologies has announced a major expansion of its functional paper coatings portfolio, introducing a new generation of water-based barrier and heat seal solutions designed to accelerate the global transition from plastic to paper-based packaging.
The launch comes as brand owners and manufacturers face mounting pressure from the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates a shift toward materials that are fully compatible with circular economy infrastructures.
For decades, plastic has been the default for packaging that requires a secure thermal seal, such as bags, sachets, and pouches. Henkel’s new heat seal coatings are designed to challenge this status quo by providing high-performance bonding directly on paper grammages.
The coatings enable reliable sealing even at low temperatures and high production speeds, making them ideal for both dry food and non-food applications — ranging from snack bags to e-commerce shipping packs for small industrial items like screws or toys. Crucially, these solutions are repulpable and approved for food contact under FDA and EU regulations, ensuring that the final package can be disposed of in standard blue bin paper recycling streams.
Beyond sealing, the expanded portfolio addresses the protection gap that often prevents paper from being used in food segments. Henkel’s water-based barrier coatings provide fibre-based packaging with essential resistance against:
- Water and humidity: preventing structural collapse in moist environments.
- Oils and fats: Maintaining shelf appeal by preventing grease stains.
- Aroma preservation: ensuring food products retain their quality throughout the supply chain.
By replacing traditional plastic or multi-layer composite laminates with these recycling-compatible coatings, manufacturers can create mono-material paper structures that do not compromise on product shelf life.
Recognising that manufacturers cannot afford to sacrifice throughput for sustainability, Henkel has engineered these coatings to be press-ready. The solutions are compatible with existing coating and packaging equipment, minimising the need for capital-intensive machinery overhauls.
To further enhance process reliability, Henkel has introduced a UV tracer version of the coatings. This allows quality management systems to monitor application consistency in real-time, ensuring every sachet is perfectly coated and sealed.
“With our expanded paper coatings portfolio, we enable paper-based packaging that is ready for current market demands,” stated Dr Arianna Savini, market strategy manager at Henkel. “By providing the necessary barrier and sealing properties, we are not only supporting the shift towards recyclable packaging but also helping customers achieve their sustainability targets within the scope of the PPWR.”
This development follows the recent introduction of Loctite Liofol CS 7106 RE, Henkel’s first cold-seal adhesive specifically designed for barrier-coated paper, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in the paperisation trend.
