Iggesund Paperboard (Iggesund, Sweden) has released Inverform, a sustainable high-performance paperboard alternative for ready-made food packaging trays. Made from pure cellulose fibres, Inverform has been specifically developed for pressed and folded trays used in food packaging “with an exceptional formability, and is an ideal replacement for traditional solutions such as plastic trays.” The company pointed out that the extensive use of plastic materials been linked to many serious problems worldwide including:
- Significant climate impact caused by the fossil fuels required to make plastic.
- Plastic collecting in the world’s oceans and elsewhere, due to their lack of biodegradability.
- Excess waste due to a low level (less than 40%) of recycling.
“Iggesund Paperboard has a long tradition of working sustainably and producing materials that won’t harm the environment,” said Stefan Söderberg, Sales Manager at Iggesund Paperboard. “Inverform was developed largely in response to the plastic pollution problem. We were determined to come up with a renewable and recyclable material for food trays that would be more environmentally friendly than plastic, while maintaining the same high packaging performance throughout the value chain. Inverform is the first of a new product application, and we are in the process of developing the next generation of barriers, since there’s an increasing demand for sustainable packaging solutions and the requirements are becoming tougher each year. We are continuously improving our products to help our customers with their challenges now and in the future,” Söderberg added.
Trays made of Inverform with a plastic barrier have a substantially lower carbon footprint than the common plastic trays and can be recycled in existing paper packaging recycling systems. In addition to helping lower climate impact, Inverform packaging meets the highest standards for food hygiene and protection, ensuring longer life and less food waste. The new product is a Solid Bleached Board (SBB) made of pure cellulose fibres sourced from sustainably managed forests. A polymer barrier is added, making it ideal for tray-forming and heat-sealing. Inverform is a food-grade material, without added optical brightening agents, and has earned all the required food safety certificates, including being safe for use in microwaves as well as conventional ovens.
