Flocking wood foam

Flocking the Future with Papira®

Papira® leads the way in flocking with a velvet-soft, sustainable material

In a collaboration between Stora Enso, Krekelberg Flock Products, and Flocktechniek – C&B Innovations, sustainable design takes a meaningful step forward. At the center of this initiative is Papira®, Stora Enso’s plastic-free wood foam, now transformed into a 3D structure with a soft, velvety surface using advanced flocking technology. The surface is enhanced with a cellulose-based flock fibre from Krekelberg, applied by Flocktechniek – C&B Innovations. The result: a fully customizable finish in colour, gloss, pattern, and texture — opening a new design space for renewable materials like Papira®.

Papira flocking

Papira® is a lightweight, cellulose-based packaging foam designed to provide a lower environmental impact alternative to traditional plastic foams. It is plastic free, recyclable in paper board streams, and biodegradable — offering brands a renewable alternative without compromising performance.

“Sustainable materials shouldn’t limit creativity — they should expand it,” says Juulia Kuhlman, Director, Business Development at Stora Enso. “This collaboration shows how Papira®’s renewable fibre structure can be enhanced for completely new surface expressions, demonstrating what’s possible when material innovation and design meet.”

Krekelbergs cellulose fibres are biodegradable eucalyptus-based flock fibres developed specifically for paper and board substrates. Produced with water-based adhesives, Oeko-Tex certified pigments, and FSC®-certified fibres, it reflects Krekelberg’s commitment to environmentally responsible fibres and processes.

Flocktechniek – C&B Innovations, with decades of industrial flocking expertise, applied the surface using their electrostatic fibre technology, ensuring a durable, high-quality finish. Their machinery and technical know-how made it possible to achieve a consistent and premium tactile effect on a cellulose-based foam.

This collaboration highlights how renewable materials and cross-industry partnerships can redefine the future of protective packaging — uniting low-carbon performance, circularity, and design freedom in one solution.

Let us know if you are curious what Papira® can do for your company and how it can reduce your carbon footprint.

Read more:

Cellulose foam Papira®

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