PulPac licensee, Stora Enso, is planning to open a "groundbreaking" dry moulded fibre production unit in Skene, Sweden, with production set to begin in Q4 2024 after successful large-scale testing.
The company says the facility is the largest and most advanced of its kind, marking a significant milestone in sustainable packaging technology.
Stora Enso’s Skene production unit utilises PulPac’s innovative Dry Moulded Fibre process to produce high-performance formed fibre products, such as cup lids, designed to replace traditional plastics in food and beverage packaging.
Unlike conventional wet forming, the dry process reduces water and energy consumption significantly, therefore offering an even more sustainable manufacturing method for fibre-based packaging.
Additionally, any excess material is recaptured and reused, ensuring a circular process with minimal waste.
The Dry Moulded Fibre technology provides efficient production at high speeds, enabling Stora Enso to meet growing market demand for fully renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable fibre-based packaging solutions.
“Stora Enso is the first producer to successfully implement this new dry forming technology on a large scale,” says Anna Stenström, operation director at the Skene Production Unit.
“We are truly excited to pioneer this new approach and to explore all the possibilities it offers to shape the future of sustainable packaging.”
The products produced with Dry Moulded Fibre offer a significantly lower CO2 footprint compared to single-use plastics.
The dry forming process also offers flexibility in barrier additives for customised functionality, as well as an excellent surface finish with the option to advanced decoration possibilities.
“The Skene Production Unit represents another great advancement in sustainable packaging by Stora Enso,” said Juuso Konttinen, senior vice-president of biomaterials growth businesses at Stora Enso.
“Dedication of our team and the collaboration with PulPac and other suppliers has enabled us to scale up this innovative technology to meet the continuously growing demand for high-quality and more eco-friendly products.”
Sustainability is at the core of Stora Enso’s operations, and implementing Dry Moulded Fibre is an example how they continue to lead the transition to circular, low-carbon solutions in the packaging industry, making a lasting impact on both the environment and the communities it serves.
"It's fantastic to collaborate with forward-thinking leaders like Stora Enso. We are proud to see Dry Moulded Fibre powering their scale-up of dry forming, and we remain committed to supporting their success every step of the way," Sanna Fager, chief commercial officer at PulPac, concluded.
