Contents

Executive summary

1 Introduction and methodology
Introduction

• Objectives
• Methodology
• Definitions
• Abbreviations

• The importance of process
• Extrusion barrier coatings
• Wet-barrier coatings
• Wax coating
• Barrier metallisation

• Thermoplastic polymers
• High barrier polymers
• Aluminium
• Waxes
• Silicone and other natural materials
• Biobased polymers

• The path to PPWR
• Key articles identified by EUROPEN

• EUROPEN
• CAA and PSI
• The US Plastics Pact

• Case study: steel food can

• Challenges at material recovery facilities (MRFs)
• AI and optics
• Recovery logistics
• Recycling by design

• Canopy and industry alliances

• 4evergreen
• Poly Coated Paper Alliance (PCPA)

• Micro Powders, Inc phasing out PFAS

• UPM and Eastman collaborate on biobased, biodegradable and recyclable material

• Orkla Suomi and UPM develop recyclable chocolate wrapper
• ProAmpac and Marks and Spencer’s recyclable paper-coated potato package
• Mondi launches barrier-coated paper construction bag
• Greif announces recycled and recyclable/pulpable paperboard
• Ahlstrom launches new paper for flexible packaging

• Siegwerk’s recyclable mono-PE bag with advanced barrier coatings
• Constantia’s mono-PE pouch facilitates recycling
• Mondi’s new extrusion line in the Czech Republic

• Walki and Lactips create biodedgradable, natural polymer materials
• Kelpi diversifies seaweed packaging
• Sea6Energy producing seaweed-based coatings for fibre packaging

• Shangdong LXBIO CO₂-based plastic PPC-P to market
• GRECO to study biobased, biodegradable and recyclable PLA

• Thermoplastic polymers

• Green PVOH/EVOH
• Aluminium
• Waxes
• Silicone and other natural materials
• Biobased polymers

• Bio-PE South America
• Bio-PE Asia
• Bio-PE Europe
• Bio-PE North America

• Significance of sustainable coatings for food applications

List of Tables
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in packaging, by material type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in paper substrates, by circularity/biodisposability, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in plastic substrates, by recyclability, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in packaging, by material type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Expanding the definition of plastic-free    
Transition table – sustainable packaging trends to 2030
Biobased polymers in order of capacity, 2024
Forecast global circularity rates, by packaging material, 2023 vs 2034 
Global sustainable barrier coatings on paper substrates, recyclability/biodisposability, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of sustainable barrier coating in paper substrates, by circularity/biodisposability, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global sustainable barrier coatings on plastic substrates, recyclability by type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global consumption of thermoplastic polymers in functional and barrier coatings, by application process, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Properties of plastic-free coatings and barriers exempted from SUPD EPR fees (20–2,000 euros/tonne), plastic levies and bans
Biobased coating materials
Biobased polymers, in order of capacity, 2024
Legislation changes and industry response
Key drivers for sustainable barrier coatings
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in packaging, by material type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of sustainable barrier coating in packaging, by material type, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global consumption of thermoplastic polymers for barrier coatings, by application process, 2019–30(’000 tonnes)
Global consumption of thermoplastic polymer barrier coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of thermoplastic polymer barrier coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global consumption of high-barrier polymer coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of high-barrier polymer coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global consumption of wax coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of wax coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global consumption of silicone and other natural coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global value of silicone and other natural coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 ($ million)
Global consumption of biobased and biodegradable barrier coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global consumption of biobased coatings in packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in packaging by substrate type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Transition table
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in packaging, by end use, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in food packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)        
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in drinks packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)        
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption for foodservice packaging by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global sustainable barrier coating consumption in non-food packaging, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global biobased coatings in packaging consumption, by region, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Global biobased coatings in packaging, market value by region, 2019–30 ($ million)
European biobased and natural coatings in packaging, consumption by product type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
European biobased and natural coatings in packaging, market value by product type, 2019–30 ($ million)
North American biobased coatings in packaging, consumption by product type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
North American biobased and natural coatings in packaging market, value by product type, 2019–30 ($ million)
South & Central American biobased and natural coatings in packaging, consumption by product type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
South & Central American biobased and natural coatings in packaging, market value by product type, 2019–30 ($ million)        
Asia Pacific biobased and natural coatings in packaging, consumption by product type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Asia Pacific biobased and natural coatings in packaging market, value by product type, 2019–30 ($ million)
Middle East & African biobased and natural coatings in packaging, consumption by product type, 2019–30 (’000 tonnes)
Middle East & African biobased and natural coatings in packaging, market value by product type, 2019–30 ($ million)

List of Figures
Global value of sustainable barrier coatings, 2024
Biobased sector market share, 2030
Biobased coatings growth, by region, 2024 to 2030
Coating consumption, by end use, 2024    
Material solutions to the sustainability challenge
OECD data on plastic waste recycling, 2019
evergreen’s recycling strategy for fibre-based packaging paper in Europe
American Forest & Paper Association recycling guidelines         
Sustainable coating uses
Polymer coatings for a sustainable future
Global bioplastics capacities 2024    
US states EPR rules
Amazon eliminating plastic pillows
Plastics Pact Roadmap 2.0
Global regulations for sustainable packaging
US single-use plastic bag bans
Alliance to End Plastic Waste’s third solution model playbook
Brands developing solutions with Cirkla
Canopy and Veuve Clicquot: ‘luxury doesn’t have to cost the earth’
Cross-sector leadership of the PCPA
Oxygen barrier of UPM/Eastman’s biopolymer extrusion coated paper
Adhesion force of UPM/Eastman’s biopolymer extrusion coated paper
End-uses of UPM/Eastman biopolymer extrusion coated paper
Orkla Suomi’s Panda bar wrapper        
Performance fibre flexibles
Mondi’s barrier coated paper bag        
Greif’s EnviroRAP
Siegwerk’s printable packaging
High barrier, mono PE pouch
Extrusion line at Mondi Coating Štĕtí
Walki and Lactips biodegradable, plastics-free food packaging
Sea6Energy seaweed-based coating on fibre packaging
Sea6Energy aquaculture
Kuraray’s biobased EOVH and POVH
Biobased biodegradable and non-biodegradable plastics production, 2029
CJ CheilJedang bio-based and biodegradable PHA/PLA
Global sustainable barrier coatings, by substrate, 2025 vs 2030
Food packaging coatings transition from synthetic non-biodegradable to biobased biodegradable
Nestlé’s paper and board packaging for Quality Street
Pulpex funded for biobased, recyclable and biodegradable bottle scale-up
KHS silicone oxide coating for PET bottles
Paper and paperboard coated with Solenis topscreen biowax barrier coatings
Global foodservice sustainable barrier coatings, 2025 vs 2030
Solenis wax barrier paper
Global biobased coatings in packaging, 2025–30 ($ million)
Global production capacities of biobased plastics, 2024 and 2029    
Consumer views on packaging sustainability
Asia Pacific, bio-based and natural materials, 2025 vs 2030
IMF’s global economic growth forecast