UPM Specialty Materials and BASF have entered a collaboration aimed at advancing recyclable, fiber-based packaging structures as converters and brand owners look to reduce reliance on multi-material formats.
The partnership combines UPM’s barrier and barrier base papers, including UPM Solide Lucent and UPM Asendo, with BASF’s Joncryl HPB high-performance barrier resins. The companies said the objective is to develop packaging solutions that meet functional requirements while supporting recyclability and design-for-recycling objectives.
The collaboration comes as regulatory and market pressure increases around packaging waste, particularly in Europe under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. For packaging producers and users, the shift is placing greater emphasis on materials that can deliver barrier performance without compromising compatibility with existing recycling systems.
According to the companies, the combined paper and coating system is intended for a range of food and non-food packaging applications. UPM’s packaging papers are certified recyclable under multiple standards, while BASF said its Joncryl HPB coatings have been shown not to negatively affect recyclability.
“The transition to recyclable fiber-based packaging requires both advanced barrier performance and close collaboration across the value chain,” said Mika Uusikartano, senior manager, product portfolio management at UPM Specialty Materials.
BASF said waterborne barrier coatings are playing an important role in replacing plastic-based and PE-laminated structures, particularly in flexible packaging applications where performance and recyclability must increasingly be addressed together.
UPM and BASF will present jointly developed packaging samples at interpack 2026 in Düsseldorf, where the companies plan to highlight both the performance and sustainability attributes of the combined material system.
