UPM Specialty Papers has collaborated with EvoPak to aid Walkers Chocolates in their shift from plastic wrappers to recyclable paper-based food and drink packaging. This strategic partnership will bolster Walkers Chocolates’ commitment to sustainable packaging while simultaneously decreasing plastic usage across their operations.
This collaboration integrates UPM SolideTM Lucent 45 g/m² barrier base paper with EvoPak’s RCM coating, resulting in an innovative fibre-based barrier solution ideally suited for chocolate products and other demanding applications. With robust oxygen and grease barriers, the new paper packaging meets Walkers Chocolates’ rigorous standards for product quality.
Since 2024, Walkers Chocolates has been offering recyclable paper packaging for their chocolates manufactured for major retailers and international clients. Furthermore, a selection of the company’s products, packaged in UPM Solide Lucent with EvoPak’s RCM coating, are now available in various UK retail chains as well as international markets.
UPM Solide Lucent stands out as a strong and versatile barrier base paper that boasts a distinctive aesthetic. Its smooth surface and high density provide superior properties for further converting and printing, enhancing the food and drink sustainable packaging landscape.
“The printability of UPM Solide Lucent is really impressive, and EvoPak’s RCM coating is a revolutionary solution for our industry,” noted Tom Murtagh, Commercial Director at Walkers Chocolates. “We’ve maintained the same packaging line efficiency and speed as with our previous plastic materials, requiring only minor adjustments.”
The exceptional performance of UPM Solide Lucent, coupled with EvoPak’s RCM coating—a unique, water-soluble polymer—has enabled EvoPak to create a transformative solution that retains the functional advantages of traditional plastic packaging.
“We’re extremely happy with how the paper extrudes, and the print quality in flexo is exceptional,” stated Tom Lock, CEO of EvoPak. “We are 100% satisfied with UPM Solide Lucent as our preferred grade for future sustainable packaging development.”
Designed to be recyclable within current fibre recycling systems, this packaging aligns with the principles of the circular economy. The co-developed solution utilizing EvoPak’s RCM coating and UPM Solide Lucent barrier base paper has achieved the CEPI/4EG Technical Recyclability Score (v. 2.0 Jan 2025).
Samples of this innovative solution are available at UPM Specialty Papers’ stand 329, Hall 3A at Fachpack, Nuremburg, Germany, from September 23rd to 25th.