Koehler Paper is sharpening its push into plastic replacement strategies with an expanded portfolio of recyclable barrier papers aimed at both food and non-food packaging applications, as the company uses its latest market showcase to demonstrate how paper-based materials are moving from niche sustainability claims into broader commercial deployment.
The German paper manufacturer is centring its latest packaging strategy around practical, shelf-ready applications, presenting paper alternatives designed for products ranging from tea, chocolate and pasta to cosmetics, pet food and drugstore goods. The approach reflects growing demand from converters and brand owners for fibre-based formats that can deliver both recyclability and technical performance in increasingly regulation-sensitive markets.
“With its extensive product range, Koehler Paper shows that flexible, recyclable packaging can increasingly be produced using paper wherever it is technically feasible, while meeting high standards for product protection and processability,” said Alexander Rauer, Head of Business Development for flexible packaging papers at Koehler Paper.
A key product launch is Koehler NexPlus® OGR, a new PFAS-free barrier paper developed for grease- and oil-resistant foodservice applications such as burger wraps, chip packaging and wraps. The grade extends the company’s NexPlus range into segments facing heightened scrutiny over single-use plastics and fluorinated chemical use, while positioning paper as a regulatory-compliant alternative for quick-service and convenience food operators.
The launch builds on Koehler’s wider strategy of combining functional barrier performance with paper-stream recyclability, a technical balance that remains a central challenge in fibre-based flexible packaging.
Koehler is also highlighting commercial adoption through its partnership with German food producer RUF Lebensmittelwerk KG, which is using Koehler NexPlus® Seal Pure MOB for porridge packaging. Designed for dry food applications, the paper includes an integrated mineral oil barrier and is recyclable within standard paper waste streams. Koehler said the switch has enabled RUF to reduce reliance on plastic-containing materials.
Beyond flexible packaging, the company is also promoting broader fibre-based packaging systems, including its Greenium recycled paper range made from 100% secondary fibre and the KATZ Food Plate®, a moulded wood pulp board solution for food presentation and retail packaging.
Rather than focusing solely on material specifications, Koehler’s presentation strategy emphasises visible end-market implementation — effectively using real retail examples to demonstrate where paper can now meet commercial packaging requirements.
This “show, don’t tell” approach underscores a wider industry transition: as PPWR-related pressures and retailer sustainability targets intensify, packaging material suppliers are increasingly expected to prove scalability and application fit, not just material innovation. For Koehler, the message is that recyclable paper formats are no longer confined to lightweight dry goods but are increasingly targeting technically demanding categories previously dominated by plastics.
