Finnish food and confectionery processor Orkla Suomi wanted to find a paper-based packaging solution to support its goal of increasing the share of renewable packaging materials without compromising recyclability. During a six-month pilot period, new wrappers for Panda brand chocolate bars replace traditionally used PP-plastic wrappers. The new solution uses UPM Specialty Papers Asendo™ barrier paper.

The paper’s built-in grease-barrier protection removes the need for an additional plastic layer. A cold-seal lacquer allows the package to be sealed on existing flow-wrap packaging machines, and the new packaging has undergone testing, including shelf-life studies.

“We want to make everyday life better with local brands that bring joy and make sustainable choices easier. A great example of our ongoing efforts to replace fossil-based materials with renewable alternatives is the new paper-based, chocolate-tablet packaging,” says Arja Laitinen, packaging developer at Orkla Snacks.

Chocolate can be a challenging product to package in paper, due to its relatively high grease level. So the new type of wrapper is based on UPM Asendo Pro 75-gsm barrier paper, which offers the required level of grease-barrier properties and is also certified for food safety to BfR and FDA standards.

Validated as recyclable (PTS method RH 021/97, cat II) in existing fiber-recycling streams, the new wrapper has undergone extensive testing. It will now replace the former plastic wrappers during a six-month pilot in stores across Finland.