Paperization is redefining sustainable packaging as fibers can be easily formed and returned to the circular loop with recycling rates of over 75% in Europe*. With EU regulations tightening recyclability targets by 2030, paper based solutions have moved from future vision to industry priority. To navigate this transformation, brands must understand how fiber rich materials support PPWR compliance, the technical challenges of replacing plastic, and the role of supply chain collaboration. This article explores these key factors shaping the future of fiber based packaging.
Why fiber-based packaging helps brands comply with PPWR regulations?
As the PPWR landscape evolves, fiber-based packaging offers a compliance advantage. High fiber content improves recyclability, making it easier for packaging to meet PPWR design‑for‑recycling criteria. With its high fiber yield, paper‑based solutions use raw materials efficiently and support strong recycling performance, which can help reduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees through higher eco‑modulation scores. This performance is validated by independent testing: Interzero’s “Made for Recycling” certification confirms the strong recyclability of our solutions, with our thinbarrier 201 receiving a score of 18 out of 20 points – demonstrating its suitability for established recycling streams. The assessment is based on three key criteria: collection (2 points), sorting (6 points) and processing (12 points), and highlights thinbarrier 201 as one of several products in our portfolio that have already achieved certificate.
What are the biggest technical challenges of replacing plastic with fiber-based packaging?
Plastic packaging has long held a solid position in the industry. But with the PPWR introducing strict requirements for recyclability, companies are now compelled to shift toward fiber‑based alternatives. In this regulatory landscape, specialty paper is emerging as the future solution and as a strategic choice for scalable, sustainable packaging. Lightweight papers deliver high performance, efficient material use, and greater yield per ton, enabling manufacturers to streamline operations while meeting PPWR compliance. Confidence in running fiber‑based materials on modern high‑speed packaging lines is growing rapidly. Drawing on Sacmi’s operational insights, development and expertise, Herbert Hahnenkamp, General Manager at Sacmi Packaging, confirms that “Modern systems are now capable of processing paper efficiently with only minimal adjustments, as demonstrated by excellent runnability on high-speed flow wrappers.”
When machines are adjusted for paper, they can still run film afterward, giving manufacturers flexibility. In contrast, modifying film‑designed lines to run paper is usually more difficult. Manufacturers and value‑chain partners are working together to harmonize paper standards to improve consistency. A good example is the collaboration with FormerFab, where paper‑optimized forming shoulders were engineered to deliver reliable, high‑quality packaging performance. These innovations are helping the packaging sector scale fiber‑based solutions more efficiently and support the shift toward sustainable, future‑ready materials.
How partners work together in packaging supply chains?
Major challenges like PPWR can only be solved through collaboration across the entire packaging supply chain. The shift toward fiber‑based solutions requires more than replacing one material with another – it demands coordinated transformation among material suppliers, machinery experts, converters, brand owners, and recycling partners. This collaboration is now happening at scale, marking a clear evolution from past siloed approaches. As a specialty paper manufacturer, we actively connect partners to accelerate problem‑solving. For instance, when customers need input on forming shoulders, we refer them to the appropriate machine specialists to jointly develop viable solutions. Our technical teams also support on‑site during test runs and trials, ensuring customers – from converters to brand owners – benefit from our full network expertise throughout the entire development process.
The shift toward recyclable, regulation‑aligned paper solutions is advancing across the packaging industry. Supporting PPWR-compliant packaging design, improving technical capabilities, and increasing supply‑chain collaboration, fiber‑based materials are becoming more viable. As Eckhard Kallies, Business & Strategy Development Executive at delfort, notes, “Paperization continues to gain ground, supported by decades of expertise in fiber-based packaging, strong industry know-how, and well-established paper recycling systems enabling circular material flows.” Combined with responsibly sourced, EUDR‑compliant fibers, paper offers a future‑ready path for sustainable packaging strategies.
*European Paper Recycling Council. European Paper Recycling Council Reports Strong Recycling Rates for 2024. July 10, 2025
FAQs: Eco‑modulation scores & EUDR
What are eco-modulation scores?
Eco-modulation scores rate how environmentally sustainable and recyclable packaging is. A higher eco-modulation score typically means better environmental performance and lower EPR fees, while a lower score indicates poorer recyclability and higher compliance costs. The system is designed to reward sustainable product design and penalize hard-to-recycle materials.
What is EUDR and what does it require?
EUDR stands for the European Union Deforestation Regulation, an EU law that requires companies to prove that products made from wood – including paper, packaging, and pulp – are deforestation-free, legally harvested, and fully traceable to their exact forest origin before they can be sold in or exported from the European Union.
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