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Papira® by Stora Enso lightweight foam is made from pulp fibers. The semi-rigid foam has a high-cushioning performance and is suitable as protective packaging for a wide range of products. Papira can be designed and cut with precision for optimal size and protection, even for complex shapes and packaging sizes.
Papira offers a fully paper-recyclable and plastic-free alternative to traditional fossil-based packaging foams, such as polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), and expanded polystyrene (EPS). It is designed to be recycled as paper, but if Papira exits the circular material stream, it will biodegrade. Recycling of Papira is easy, and it allows the consumer to put the whole package in the same curbside collection bin.
The wood-based raw materials are sourced from sustainably managed forests in the Nordics and manufactured in a 100% fossil-free production process in which only air and water are used for foaming the material. No solvents, blowing agents, or hazardous chemicals are used.
As a completely new material, Papira is currently being assessed to obtain certifications of recyclability and biodegradability. Furthermore, the environmental impact is being measured to quantify how Papira can improve the carbon footprint of packaging. The performance of Papira in packaging applications is tested in Stora Enso’s PackTester lab, an ISTA® certified test lab, to ensure product protection.
Papira® by Stora Enso is among the finalists of Packaging Europe’s Sustainability Awards 2022 in the pre-commercialized “Renewables” category. Winners of this category will be announced on November 14, 2022.
