The new Holmen Pack range started life as concept paper Type3 and is the result of extensive market research.
“We reached out to a selected number of brand managers, converters and paper solutions companies with a market survey and interviews during autumn 2019, discussing the potential needs and specifications for a new packaging paper, which resulted in the development and tests of concept paper Holmen Type3,” explained vice president of business development Tommy Wiksand.
“The environmental and sustainability aspects were important to the users, as were the relevant certifications. Holmen Pack is recyclable and biodegradable, produced with 100% traceability. The traceability is a way to guarantee that the paper comes from sustainably managed forests, right down to every single tree.”
Holmen Pack has ISO14001, FSC and PEFC certification, and is certified safe for direct food contact by Germany’s BfR and the FDA in the USA.
It joins the Gift and Sure products in Holmen's packaging range.
Holmen said the new product met the increasing market demand for alternatives to plastics, and described it as “a sustainable challenger” to single-sided machine-glazed papers.
“It has been converted to bags and user tested during spring and summer 2020, and now we are happy to release the product,” Wiksand added.
Holmen Pack is made at the group’s Hallsta mill in Hallstavik, Sweden and is double-calendered with a smooth surface on both sides. It comes in weights of 50, 55 and 60gsm and the papermaker said that it combined “the beneficial printing properties from a wood-containing paper with the necessary elements of strength from a kraft paper” and was strong enough for industrial use. Opacity is between 83%-88%.
Applications vary from food bags and dry food packaging to fast food takeaway bags and interleaving.
Holmen also highlighted its suitability for paper-wrapping applications, such as for magazines or cover mounts.
It is sold directly in the UK by the Holmen Paper operation in London.
The Hallsta mill makes products from 100% virgin fibre including Holmen Book for book printing, Holmen XLNT and Holmen TRND for magazines and direct mail.
