Stora Enso expands formed fiber capacities amid impending single-use plastic legislation

25 Sep 2020 --- Stora Enso is investing in more formed fiber capacity at its Hylte Mill in Sweden and Qian’an Mill in China. The annual capacity at both mills will be approximately 115 million product units. 

The company has also started the production of PureFiber formed fiber foodservice products at the Hylte Mill.

“Growing market demand, more on-the-go food, sustainability and food safety awareness, and single-use plastic legislation are the main motivating factors driving this new production,” senior vice president of formed fiber Sohrab Kazemahvazi tells PackagingInsights.  

Click to EnlargeThe Hylte Mill in Sweden.“Expanding our formed fiber production in China will support the Chinese efforts to replace single-use food packaging with sustainable and safe alternatives,” adds David Ekberg, executive vice president, packaging solutions division at Stora Enso.

Positive climate impact
The PureFiber renewable, recyclable and biodegradable eco-product range is produced without plastic and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), enabling a safe and sustainable alternative for fresh food packaging. 

The joint patent-pending technology from HS Manufacturing Group’s PROTĒAN offers a recyclable and biodegradable solution that gives fiber-based packaging water-, grease- and oil-resistant barrier properties.

A life-cycle analysis study shows that the PureFiber product line has a CO2 footprint that is approximately 75 percent lower than competing packaging materials.

Click to EnlargePureFiber products are plastic- and PLAS-free, providing a significantly lower CO2 footprint compared to alternative solutions.“Our ambition is to put products on the market that can replace existing single-use plastics. Our assessment shows that this will positively impact plastic pollution and sustainability,” Kazemahvazi notes.

Investing in formed fiber
In other production updates from Stora Enso, the company plans to build a pilot facility in Fors Mill, Sweden, to produce Cellufoam, a lightweight, fiber-based foam material for protective packaging cushioning. 

The company recently invested €10 million (US$11.7 million) in dispersion barrier technology that facilitates a lower carbon footprint and can be composted in industrial facilities. The new equipment is expected to come into use during the second quarter of 2021.

Stora Enso also supplied paperboard cups for Finnish food company Fazer’s oat snacks. The new cups reduce plastic by more than half compared with the former packaging, the supplier indicates. Also, the carbon footprint of the Fazer Yosa 200 g reportedly produces 56 percent less CO2 emissions throughout its life cycle.

By Anni Schleicher

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