Blue Ocean Closures announces breakthrough to further reduce plastic in packaging. In collaboration, Stora Enso, AISA and Blue Ocean Closures have developed the first ever paperboard tube with a fiber-based closure consisting of more than 85% fibers.
The new, innovative wood fiber-based concept helps brand owners to increase the share of renewable material in their packaging. All components of the tube are designed for recycling.
The fiber-based screw cap developed by Blue Ocean Closures is combined with a tube composed of Stora Enso’s barrier-coated board material Natura Shape™ and assembled by AISA. The solution contains more than 85% fiber content, the highest proportion available in a tube design. Intended for use in for example cosmetics, personal or home care, it is expected to be commercially available in 2024.
Lars Sandberg, CEO at Blue Ocean Closures comments on the development:
We know that brand owners face challenges when trying to find sustainable alternatives to plastic tubes and believe it is essential to increase fiber content to reach a higher degree of recyclability, reduce carbon footprint, and meet consumer expectations.
Lars Sandberg, CEO at Blue Ocean Closures
To help brand owners achieve their sustainability targets without compromising on functionalities and shelf presence, increased collaboration is required across the value chain. The technology development of the screw cap for the tube is accelerated through a design project part-funded by BioInnovation and involving also Karlstad University.
The tube solution has come far due to great research collaboration, which is exactly what is needed to achieve more sustainable packaging. Making a tube with shoulder and cap, work with unprecedented high fiber content is possible when all project partners contribute their knowledge and technology.
Project Manager and CTO at Blue Ocean Closures, Staffan Andersson
The achievement will be officially launched at Interpack 2023, the world’s largest fair for the packaging industry. Welcome to visit 4th – 10th of May in Düsseldorf, Germany.