Stora Enso, Finland, reports that its Natura liquid packaging board now provides improved print quality and lower basis weight. The improved Natura liquid packaging board "provides the utmost material efficiency, a low carbon footprint, and excellent packaging performance," says Vesa Simola, SVP Liquid and Food Service Board at Stora Enso. Lower-weight packaging board helps brand owners to meet the requirements of the EU packaging directive to minimize the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment, Stora Enso notes, adding that improved material efficiency generates savings in material and transport costs and environmental fees.
Improvements in the Natura board came through a EUR 45 million investment in No. 4 board machine at the company's Imatra Mills in Finland during 2008 and 2009. The investment included reforms in the wet end, press section, and calender. Natura includes board grades for packaging of milk and dairy products, juice, tea, coffee, wine, and water. Typical non-food applications include detergents, fabric softeners, and personal care. The main markets are Europe and Asia.
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