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Billerud has launched a machine glazed kraft paper especially adapted and validated for wrapping toilet and kitchen paper rolls. It says the paper is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable, but also able to endure tough handling as good as any PE plastic.

“With this paper solution we make it easy for brand owners to switch from plastic to paper wrapping, without having to compromise on performance. It provides customers an opportunity to grow business by meeting new consumer demand through renewable and innovative applications,” said Danevert Åsbrink, senior director Product Management at Billerud.

Toilet and kitchen paper rolls are consumed in large numbers every day. The company says for brand owners, switching from plastic to this paper wrapping would mean a significant sustainability gain and would be in line with consumer preferences. An Ipsos Global survey of 20,000 consumers (2021) shows that three out of four consumers want to get rid of single-use plastics.

Billerud also claims that the virgin fibres enable excellent printability and has the strength to withstand tough handling conditions. Due to its long virgin fibres, drop tests show the new paper has just as much resilience as PE plastics.

The machine glazing makes the paper’s surface smooth, which enables strong sealing power, according to Bullerud, and on top of minimising the risk of damage to goods, the paper is strong enough to use a lighter weight and save on resources.

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