PulPac, a global leader in Dry Molded Fiber, and Future Materials Sweden, an innovative Swedish start-up, announce a strategic partnership aimed at driving the transition from plastics to responsibly produced fiber-based packaging solutions. This collaboration combines complementary expertise and a shared ambition to accelerate next-gen packaging solutions in new market segments.
Future Materials Sweden brings extensive experience from the plastic injection molding industry and tool manufacturing, paired with strong entrepreneurial drive and market insight. By joining forces with PulPac, they aim to leverage cutting-edge fiber-based technology to help brands reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and open doors to new applications.
PulPac’s patented Dry Molded Fiber technology enables the production of high-performance, fiber-based packaging with unmatched design possibilities and minimal environmental impact. Using renewable materials and significantly less water and energy than traditional methods, PulPac’s mission is to replace single-use plastics globally — at scale and speed.
SIG entered a strategic partnership with PulPac, a global leader in Dry Molded Fiber technology. Together, the two companies will establish an exclusive development programme for the creation and large-scale production of the next generation of paper-based closures for SIG’s aseptic cartons, moving one step closer to SIG’s target to raise the paper content in its aseptic cartons to 90 % including closure by 2030.
In its mission to create a fully regenerative food packaging system, SIG is steadily increasing the paper content of its aseptic cartons, to enhance renewability, and further reduce carbon footprints and the use of fossil-based materials. This year, SIG aims to reach an interim target of 85 % paper content (excluding closures) and, by 2030, to incorporate paper-based closures to move beyond 90 % paper content overall.
Unlocking the potential of Dry Molded Fiber
PulPac’s Dry Molded Fiber technology is based on forming a dry web of fibers to build cutting-edge responsible solutions instead of creating materials from a fiber slurry. This is resulting in minimised water usage in the molding process alongside several additional benefits like lower CO2 emissions compared to plastic solutions. The technology also offers unparalleled design flexibility and is engineered for high-volume production.
Seamless integration with existing systems
For aseptic carton packs, SIG uses post-application of its closures, only after the products have been filled into the packaging and the cartons have been securely sealed in the aseptic zone of the SIG filling machine. The precise post-application of the closures using closure applicators developed and built by SIG does not interfere with the aseptic process and ensures that the products remain safely protected. This post-application process lays the foundation for a plug-and-play solution of paper-based closures, which in future will be applied to the closed packaging in the same way as plastic closures without changing the production process.
PulPac is pleased to announce that SIG InnoVentures and Optima, a global technology leader in advanced packaging machine solutions, will join the company as new shareholders. This strategic investment broadens PulPac’s existing group of investors and underscores the confidence both SIG InnoVentures and Optima have in PulPac and its Dry Molded Fiber technology – paving the way for innovative and responsible alternatives to single-use plastic.
“Over the past year, we’ve achieved significant progress with our technology, expanding its range of applications and opening new possibilities that have attracted major players seeking scalable, eco-friendly solutions across additional packaging categories,” said Linus Larsson Green, CEO of PulPac. “Having SIG and Optima come on board as shareholders strengthens our capacity to meet this demand. SIG, with its extensive range of packaging solutions, has the reach to create a significant market shift, while Optima’s expertise in packaging and bespoke machinery for Dry Molded Fiber helps us accelerate the implementation of our technology on a global scale.”
SIG’s Chief Markets Officer, Christoph Wegener, explained how closer involvement with PulPac aligns with SIG’s mission to bring food and beverage products to consumers around the world in a safe, sustainable, and affordable way: “We see great potential in PulPac and Dry Molded Fiber. We believe PulPac and Dry Molded Fiber have an important role to play in meeting the growing demand for ever more responsible solutions.”
Fredric Petit, Packaging Partner at Emerald and SIG’s investment advisor, commented, “PulPac’s Dry Molded Fiber technology stands out as one of the most scalable and impactful innovations in sustainable packaging today. Its ability to deliver high-performance, cost-efficient fiber solutions at industrial scale makes it a natural fit for forward-thinking leaders like SIG. We believe this investment not only advances SIG’s commitment to sustainability but also accelerates the broader industry transition away from single-use plastic.”
Optima’s CEO, Dr. Stefan König, highlighted what led the company to also invest in PulPac: “Our initial collaboration on machinery showed immense promise in advancing Dry Molded Fiber solutions. By becoming shareholders, we’re deepening that partnership and combining our engineering expertise with PulPac’s technology. We look forward to scaling Dry Molded Fiber together and enabling sustainable packaging solutions that can truly reduce single-use plastic across the industry.”
This announcement follows PulPac’s existing partnership with Optima, announced in September 2024, which confirmed a shared commitment to advancing sustainable packaging solutions. By leveraging each partner’s unique capabilities, that initiative aims to accelerate the availability of fiber-based caps and closures at scale – offering brands, consumers, and the planet a cost-effective, high-performance alternative to single-use plastic.
PulPac licensee, Stora Enso, announces the opening of a groundbreaking Dry Molded Fiber Production Unit in Skene, Sweden. The facility is the largest and most advanced of its kind, marking a significant milestone in sustainable packaging technology. Production is set to begin in Q4 2024 after successful large-scale testing.
Stora Enso’s Skene Production Unit utilises PulPac’s innovative Dry Molded Fiber process to produce high-performance formed fiber products, such as cup lids, designed to replace traditional plastics in food and beverage packaging. Unlike conventional wet forming, the dry process reduces water and energy consumption significantly, thus offering an even more sustainable manufacturing method for fiber-based packaging. Additionally, any excess material is recaptured and reused, ensuring a circular process with minimal waste.
At the heart of this innovation is the advanced technology developed by PulPac, the leading company in the field. Their Dry Molded Fiber technology provides efficient production at high speeds, enabling Stora Enso to meet growing market demand for fully renewable, recyclable, and biodegradable fiber-based packaging solutions.
The products produced with Dry Molded Fiber offer a significantly lower CO2 footprint compared to single-use plastics. The dry forming process offers also flexibility in barrier additives for customised functionality as well as an excellent surface finish with the option to advanced decoration possibilities.
Sustainability is at the core of Stora Enso’s operations. Implementing Dry Molded Fiber is an example how they continue to lead the transition to circular, low-carbon solutions in the packaging industry, making a lasting impact on both the environment and the communities it serves.
