What Is ‘Paperisation’?

The process of swapping packaging from plastic to fibre-based materials now has a name. But what exactly does it mean?

There’s a new word in the print and packaging industry. Whether it’s in the agendas of board room meetings or discussions at industry events, ‘paperisation’ is being hailed as the latest trend in packaging.

Defined as the increased use of paper-based materials, often switching from fossil-fuel-based materials, you could argue that ‘paperisation’ has been around for years. The process of swapping plastic for fibre-based materials has dominated the packaging industry, with supermarket aisles now full of food, drink and FMCG products stored and displayed in recyclable and compostable paper and card. And the trend isn’t going away anytime soon.

Hot Topic

The rise in paperisation – or ‘paperfication’ – was very much in evidence at London Packaging Week 2024, where conversations included the use of paper in secondary packaging applications such as stretch wrap, adhesive tape and packing materials.

Among the many fibre-based secondary applications on show were Seaman Paper’s SeaStretch, a manual wrapping material that can also be used as filler for stuffing boxes, filling voids and providing protective cushioning. Produced using paper sourced from responsible managed forests, SeaStretch has a stretch capacity of around 30%.

Another interesting material at the event was Ranpak’s RecyCold climaliner, a recyclable, renewable and biodegradable paper-based product that offers sustainable thermal protection for temperature-sensitive food and drinks for up to 48 hours.

An Expanding Market

Of course, the most visible result of paperisation is in primary packaging, and the number of brands and products shifting their packaging across to paper and card is getting bigger by the day. The latest names to make the switch include Amazon, which is replacing the plastic bubble wrap in its envelopes with protective paper lining, and Marks & Spencer using paper-based packaging for its garlic baguettes.

This increased demand for paper-based materials is expanding the market for biodegradable and compostable packaging. A recent Smithers report concluded that the global market is forecast to grow at 8.8% CAGR to 2029, reaching an incredible 11.7 million tonnes.

“Consumption of biodegradable and compostable polymers for packaging will continue growing at a faster rate than petrochemical-based thermoplastic materials,” states the report. “Demand is driven by the growing desire of consumers, brand owners and governments to replace single-use fossil-based plastics with more sustainable packaging alternatives.”

The Heart Of The Issue

Of course, there are many business benefits to ‘paperising’ your packaging, with a number of reports concluding that switching to fibre-based packaging is not only good for reputation of a brand but also its bottom line. A survey conducted by GlobalData in 2023 found that 74% of consumers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly packaging, while the Two Sides European Packaging Preferences 2020 study found that 46% of respondents buy more from retailers who are removing plastic from their packaging.

For those who work with packaging day in day out, the trend of paperisation may not be anything new, but the fact that it now has a name means that companies all over the globe are taking the sustainability of their packaging very seriously. Which is a very good thing for both the industry and the world in general.