Packaging Innovations 2026 live: Huhtamaki & Xampla unveil board range with plastic-free coating

At Packaging Innovations 2026 in Birmingham, UK, Huhtamaki and Xampla are presenting their new folded cartonboard range featuring the plastic-free and plant-based Morro Coating. 

Live from the show floor, Packaging Insights speaks to Andy Hesp, vice president of Huhtamaki UK & Ireland, and Alexandra French, CEO at Xampla, about how the solution addresses current packaging trends observed at the show, such as paperization, plastic-free materials, and food security. 

The “really big” trend that French observes at Packaging Innovations 2026 is the move toward plastic-free solutions. Xampla’s Morro coating is made from natural plant polymers without chemical modification, and has been validated plastic-free by the National Physical Laboratory.

“We’re using natural polymers, and these are quite a new class of material. Under the EU’s Single-use Plastics Directive (SUPD), natural polymers — without a chemical modification — are the only materials exempt from the regulation.”

The collection folded cardboard range features burger boxes, trays, and pouches, and is designed for fiber recycling and home composting, where infrastructure allows. The companies say the range enables brands to “significantly” reduce plastic use without compromising grease resistance or pack integrity.

French says: “We’re expanding across a lot of markets, particularly the Netherlands, which is a very interesting market where those sorts of regulations and single-use plastics reduction are driving different material choices to things like natural polymers.” 

Huhtamaki and Xampla’s solution is also produced using FSC-certified papers. 

Food security

Huhtamaki and Xampla’s new range of folded cartonboard packaging with Xampla’s plastic-free Morro coating.Pack integrity also helps to support food security, and hygiene is an important requirement for packaging, says Huhtamaki’s Hesp. 

“The adoption of Xampla’s technology on some of our core food service solutions further contributes towards our drive to protect food, people, and the planet,” he details. 

“At Huhtamaki, our ambition to lead the way in sustainable food packaging is clear. Packaging enhances food security and makes everyday necessities more hygienic, accessible, and affordable.”

As such, biodegradable coatings need to provide the same barrier properties as plastic, adds French from the tradeshow floor. 

“The trend toward paperization in the packaging industry is where there needs to be great barrier coatings that can match the performance of plastic. Because to use paper-based packaging, it needs to have that grease and water barrier.”

According to Xampla, the Morro coating is also heat-sealable, suitable for flexible packaging formats such as pouches and sachets. “This solution demonstrates the demand in the market for truly biodegradable, plastic-free solutions in packaging,” notes French. 

Regulation meets innovation 

French adds that the industry, consumers, and producers are looking for reliable validation of plastic-free claims. 

Alexandra French, CEO at Xampla.“Last year, we did a lot of work with the National Physical Laboratory, a globally renowned institute, to verify that our materials are truly plastic-free. So it’s not just us saying something is made of plastic-free materials. It’s been validated externally as well. That holds a lot of weight in the industry.” 

As regulations like the UK EPR and the EU’s PPWR are implemented, French highlights the need for solutions that are tried and tested on the market for the packaging industry to turn to. 

“Our Morro coating is enabling the packaging industry to do just that. Another thing with regulations is that it’s important to make sure that the policymakers and governments really understand the innovations that are happening.”

“For example, making sure that natural polymers are understood and written carefully into policies, to ensure regulations don’t inadvertently stifle innovation.” 

“We’ve been working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and PackUK to make sure that they understand our materials and to make sure that innovation is going to be championed and supported to help the industry move away from plastic.” 

Huhtamaki and Xampla’s bio-based and compostable container range builds on the success of a previous collaboration, which saw Xampla's innovative Morro-coating integrated with Just Eat Takeaway.

With live reporting from Milana Nikolova at Packaging Innovations 2026.