UPM Specialty Papers
Story | 07/30/2024 07:18:49 | 2 min Read time

UPM x Fazer: introducing recyclable packaging solution for chilled foods

How co-creation powers your purpose

  • A new type of packaging for Fazer's Oat Rice Pies, which replaces traditional plastic laminated packaging paper
  • Easier to recycle and does not compromise the protection it provides
  • Based on UPM Confidio™ barrier paper, which is heat-sealable and offers the required barrier properties
  • The new packaging can already be found in the chill food aisles of Finnish supermarkets. 
 

Co-creating recyclable, fibre-based packaging for chilled foods

Fazer’s rice pastries are sold refrigerated; traditionally for such products plastic or paper-plastic laminates are used in packaging as they can withstand moisture and grease. Until now, the plastic laminate in the package was also needed as Fazer’s flowpack machine uses heat to seal the rice pie packaging.

The new packaging solution is the result of more than two years of long-term development work by Fazer and UPM Specialty Papers. The paper-based packaging solution is based on the UPM ConfidioTM heat-sealable barrier paper.

"We are impressed with how well the new, easier to recycle packaging protects and preserves the high quality of the Oat Rice Pies until the best before date. The packaging solution works on our existing packaging process and achieves all this while reducing fossil-based materials," says Piia Soininen-Tengvall, Fazer's Director of Packaging Development.

 

The award-winning packaging has been recognized in the WorldStar, ScanStar and New Wood competitions.

Designed for recycling

The new Fazer Oat Rice Pie packaging is in line with both Fazer's Sustainable Packaging Vision and UPM's Biofore strategy.

Made from renewable fibres, UPM Confidio is repulpable and designed to be recycled in existing fibre recycling streams. In recyclability test, the recycling reject of unprinted UPM Confidio paper is about 1 percent, which means that about 99 percent of the paper can be used to create new, recycled products. The recycling reject of plastic-coated paper packaging is significantly higher.

 

"Packaging papers have the advantage of being recyclable within a widely established fibre recycling infrastructure. Today, more than 80 percent of the fibre-based packaging material used in Europe is recycled. Our product development is always based on the premise of ensuring recyclability, in addition to ensuring product safety and the required functional properties," says Susanna Hyrkäs, Senior Manager, Sustainability, UPM Specialty Papers.

 
Read more about UPM Confidio™