Stora Enso Starts Production of Formed Fiber Products Free from Plastic and PFAS at Hylte Mill
PureFiber is a recyclable and biodegradable solution that gives fiber-based packaging water-, grease- and oil-resistant barrier properties without plastic or PFAS.
Sept. 28, 2020 - Stora Enso has started the production of formed fiber food service products — PureFiber™ — at its Hylte Mill in Sweden. The production ramp-up follows the investment announced in 2019 and enables the manufacture of products that are renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. According to Stora Enso, PureFiber is an eco-product range produced without plastic and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), enabling a safe and sustainable alternative for fresh food packaging. Through its partnership with HS Manufacturing Group, Stora Enso now offers a recyclable and biodegradable solution that gives fiber-based packaging water-, grease- and oil-resistant barrier properties without plastic or PFAS. The solution can be applied for a range of products, such as single-use food service items. A Life Cycle Analysis study shows that the PureFiberTM product line has a CO2 footprint that is approximately 75% lower compared to competing packaging materials. "Market demand for formed fiber products is accelerating, and these products offer a unique solution to meet that demand. Single-use plastics are already banned in many countries and PFAS in food applications are increasingly scrutinized by health authorities. This ramp-up marks our first step in putting a new generation of sustainable and safe formed fiber products on the market," says David Ekberg, Executive Vice President, Packaging Solutions Division at Stora Enso. To meet the demand for formed fiber solutions, Stora Enso is investing in additional production capacity in Hylte Mill in Sweden and Qian'an Mill in China. The annual capacity at both mills will be approximately 115 million units of products. "Expanding our formed fiber production in China will support the Chinese efforts to replace single-use food packaging with sustainable and safe alternatives," Ekberg added. A formed fiber product is manufactured by pressing various wood-based pulps into a three-dimensional shape in a moulding machine. The raw material used in PureFiber products is pulp made from wood from sustainably managed forests. Part of the bioeconomy, Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper. To learn more, please visit: www.storaenso.com. SOURCE: Stora Enso |