UPM and BASF solve the fibre-based barrier challenge
Combination of BASF Joncryl HPB with UPM Asendo for excellent moisture and water resistance. Photo: BASF
The strategic partnership between UPM Specialty Materials and BASF represents a coordinated effort to bridge the technical gap in fibre-based packaging by merging advanced paper substrates with high-performance barrier resins.
This collaboration specifically pairs UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers, such as UPM Solide Lucent and UPM Asendo, with BASF’s waterborne Joncryl HPB technology to create recyclable alternatives to traditional multi-layer plastic structures.
The primary motivation for this alliance is the industry’s need to meet impending environmental targets, specifically Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste. By providing a pre-validated material combination, the partners aim to simplify the transition for food and drink manufacturers who are moving toward “design-for-recycling” concepts.
Mika Uusikartano, senior manager of product portfolio management at UPM Specialty Materials, emphasised the importance of this integrated approach:
“The transition to recyclable fibre-based packaging requires both advanced barrier performance and close collaboration across the value chain. Our barrier papers are developed to support co-creation with partners, enabling new, high-performance packaging applications. The collaboration with BASF demonstrates how combining innovative barrier technologies with barrier papers can deliver functional, recyclable solutions that accelerate the packaging transformation.”
From a commercial perspective, the alliance provides a standard for brands looking to phase out polyethylene (PE) laminations. Rolf Alles, director of sales resins EMEA at BASF, highlighted how this synergy provides a dependable alternative for the wider market:
“The demand for sustainable packaging solutions is growing rapidly along the value chain – from brand owners to converters and formulators. UPM’s premium paper grades for flexible packaging, combined with barrier coatings based on waterborne Joncryl HPB resins from BASF form a strong and credible reference approach for the development of paper-based alternatives designed to replace plastic-based or PE-laminated structures.”
The practical results of this collaboration, featuring jointly developed samples that highlight the performance and sustainability benefits for the food and non-food sectors, will be showcased at interpack 2026.
