Barrier coatings

For high protection and performance

Thanks to barrier coatings, paperboard can be used in far more end use applications compared with paperboard as such. Various barrier coatings provide critical properties such as humidity control, sealing properties, airtightness, light protection, oxygen permeability, aroma barrier, heat resistance, peelability and grease-proofing.

So, if you are packaging food, liquid or anything that requires tight packaging and effective protection, including perishable foodstuffs, our barrier-coated paperboards are for you. Barrier coatings are made of high-quality polymers, which are applied on the board surface on one or both sides, depending on the end use.

A full line of industry-leading barriers for packaging

We use extrusion-coating and extrusion-lamination technologies with proprietary coating recipes that optimise the coating, so that you only need a thin layer of polymer to achieve the required barrier.

So, how do you choose a suitable barrier coating? That depends on what kind of product you pack and what kind of protection and performance you want for it. Stora Enso has years of expertise in coatings and provides optimised solutions for all conceivable end uses.

Dispersion barrier

• Dispersion is a new barrier option without the traditional coating layers. Good sealing properties secure performance in use. The surface is finished with water-based dispersion technology. That makes the board liquid and grease resistant during its use while it breaks down in a recycling process like paper, providing high yield of recovered fiber when products are recycled. 
• Typical end uses: Grease resistant board for short food contact applications including fast food and dry food packaging.

PE Green coating

• PE Green is a polyethylene barrier layer based on plant-based raw materials. PE Green is  functionally a drop-in solution, performing just as a conventional fossil-based PE would, both in converting and product protection.
• Typical end uses: drinking cups and packages for frozen food, ice cream and yoghurt. HDPE-coated paperboard for moisture-sensitive dry foods.

PE coating

• PE, or polyethylene, is the most commonly used barrier coating. Polyolefin barriers, such as LDPE and HDPE polymers, provide excellent humidity protection.
• Typical end uses: drinking cups and packages for frozen food, ice cream and yoghurt. HDPE-coated paperboard for moisture-sensitive dry foods.

Biodegradable coating “Bio”

• Hardly any application exists where a traditional PE coating could not be replaced by our biopolymer coating! Typical end uses: drinking cups, plates, trays and cartons for fresh foods, salads, sandwiches and dairy products.

PET coating

• PET provides a barrier and performs other functions. Black or white PET coatings that provide heat resistance act as an excellent grease barrier and possess solid WVTR (water vapour transmission rate) properties.
• Typical end uses: ovenable trays, reheatable product packages and bakery products.

PP coating

• PP or polypropylene coating offers heat resistance for microwave oven and is also suitable for deep freezing. Good sealing properties secure performance in use.
• Typical end uses: cups and trays for microwave oven and frozen food.

High-barrier coating “Barr”

• Our patented high-barrier coating consists of a multilayer EVOH and PE polymer structure. It provides excellent oxygen, humidity and aroma protection. The high-barrier coated boards and papers are also greaseproof.
• Typical end uses: delicate foods, chocolate, cereals and dairy products. Dry foods, such as sweets, savoury and processed snacks, coffee and tea, milk and cocoa powders. Liquid products, such as juices, soft drinks, green tea, water, soups, desserts and wines.

High-barrier coating “Oxy Barr Al”

• Oxy Barr Al provides oxygen barrier. It has aluminium lamination on one side and optional PE coating on the printing side of the board.
• Typical end uses: coffee and other very sensitive foodstuffs. 

To summarise, our wide selection of barrier coatings enables you to optimise protection, control odours and prolong the shelf life of your product. You get the most economical packaging solution and outstanding performance in one, while benefitting from the excellent printing and conversion properties of our paperboard. You can increase the share of renewable materials in your packaging and minimise the use of non-renewable materials.