UPM Specialty Materials has extended its barrier paper technology to label face papers with the launch of UPM Asendo 80, a grease-resistant grade made without PFAS.
The 80 gsm paper is designed for label applications where grease resistance is required, including food-contact uses such as olive oil packaging. It is compatible with a range of adhesive types and suited to UV flexo and UV-inkjet printing.
UPM Specialty Materials said it does not add PFAS to its papers at any stage of production. Each grade is tested by independent third-party laboratories, with documentation available for converters to provide to their customers.
UPM Asendo 80 is available as FSC or PEFC certified and meets the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) requirements for food-contact use.
The company said the grade extends its UPM Asendo range to an 80 gsm basis weight, which is typically used for labels. Converters can also access technical guidance from UPM when adapting the paper to specific label formats.
“Bringing our barrier technology from packaging into UPM Asendo 80 gives label converters access to grease resistance that has been validated over years of use in demanding packaging applications. It also helps converters grow and win by opening the door to higher-value label applications,” said Kirsi Lahtela, product manager at UPM Specialty Materials.
The launch follows the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation's (PPWR) restriction on PFAS in food-contact packaging, which became applicable across the European Union on 12 August 2026.
