Turning Paper into High-Performance Packaging

Rethinking Packaging from the Ground Up
Sustainability has become a defining factor in packaging decisions. Brands are looking for alternatives to plastic that meet regulatory requirements while still delivering the performance needed on shelf and in production.

But replacing established materials is not a simple switch. It requires rethinking materials, processes, and machine technology – making close collaboration essential. By combining their expertise, Henkel and W&H have enabled paper to meet functional requirements that were long considered exclusive to plastic-based structures.

From Concept to Industrial Reality
The key lies in an inline process that integrates functional coating directly into the printing process.

Using Henkel’s water-based AQUENCE BC 5100 RE and W&H’s inline printing unit technology, barrier and sealing functionalities are applied in a single step. This eliminates additional coating steps and turns paper into a material that performs under real production conditions.

The result is a solution that:

• Provides reliable barriers against moisture and grease
• Enables strong and consistent heat sealing
• Runs efficiently on packaging machines at industrial speeds

In short, paper becomes a viable option not only from a sustainability perspective, but also from an operational one.

Designed for Circularity
A key advantage of the solution is its compatibility with existing recycling systems. Certified by cyclos-HTP, the material structure supports established paper recycling streams – an essential requirement for true circularity.

At the same time, the inline approach simplifies the overall process:

• No separate coating step
• Reduced energy consumption
• Lower process complexity

This combination of material innovation and process efficiency creates tangible value across the entire value chain.

“Paper is a strong material for sustainable packaging, but it needs coatings to achieve the required performance. With this solution, we can apply barrier and sealing properties inline on a W&H machine, which makes the process efficient and practical for industrial use.”
– Diana Matibag, Application Engineering Business Development, Henkel Adhesive Technologies – Packaging Europe

A Practical Alternative to Plastic
The solution is designed for high-throughput production environments and can be implemented within existing converting setups. For converters and brand owners, this opens up a realistic path to replace plastic with paper – without compromising on performance or efficiency.

Moving Ahead
This collaboration shows what can be achieved when material science and machine technology are developed hand in hand. Henkel and W&H will continue to develop this approach further, enabling new applications, improving efficiency, and supporting the transition toward circular packaging.