Metsä Group and global packaging leader Amcor have announced a strategic partnership to develop a new generation of moulded fibre-based food packaging.
The collaboration will combine Metsä’s wood-based Muoto™ packaging with Amcor’s high-barrier lidding and liner films, aiming to deliver recyclable and renewable solutions for a variety of food applications.
This joint effort targets the growing demand for sustainable alternatives to plastic. The Muoto™ product, made from traceable Nordic wood, offers a renewable and recyclable base, while Amcor’s barrier technology enhances its protective and functional properties. The result is a heat-sealable, three-dimensional fibre package suitable for perishable foods.
“Our collaboration with Amcor represents a significant step forward in more sustainable packaging innovation,” said Jarkko Tuominen, Vice President, Projects, at Metsä Spring, the innovation arm of Metsä Group. “Together, we are redefining the future of food packaging.”
Amcor’s AmFiber™ portfolio already supports fibre-based solutions for markets such as snacks, dairy, meat, and beverages. Ilya Syshchikov, Amcor’s Vice President of Fiber, added, “Both parties bring a wealth of materials, packaging and market knowledge to deliver more sustainable solutions to our customers with exceptional quality, functionality and efficiency.”
The recyclable packaging solution is expected to achieve a CEPI recyclability score of over 80% and will be compatible with paper recycling streams in most markets. In the longer term, the companies hope to create a fully compostable version. Commercial rollout in Europe is planned for later this year.
Metsä Group currently manufactures Muoto™ products at a demo plant in Äänekoski, Finland, and is evaluating the feasibility of scaling up to a commercial factory.
Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Operating in over 40 countries, Amcor focuses on innovation and sustainability, offering recyclable and high-performance packaging designed to reduce environmental impact.
Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring invests in and supports potential innovations and technologies that find new purposes and higher value for Nordic wood to replace fossil-based materials and chemicals in everyday products.
Metsä Group is a Finnish forest industry company owned by approximately 90,000 private forest owners. It produces sustainable and recyclable wood-based products, including pulp, paperboards, tissue papers, and wood products.
