The Helsinki Wholesale Market area launched, in October 2018, an innovation competition aimed at finding new ideas and solutions for the development of services and versatile entrepreneurship. From around 60 entries submitted, the best seven were chosen for a pilot phase. Metsä Board is delighted to announce that one of the selected entries is for its recyclable packaging concept targeted at restaurant takeaway services.

The Metsä Board’s project involves the whole packaging value chain, and these needs formed the basis for the packaging development. In addition, a consumer study was carried out at the beginning of the pilot stage. "The current takeaway packages used by restaurants either have functional challenges or consumers regard them as non-ecological. We also got feedback that current packaging does not fulfill the criteria of premium packaging," said Leena Yliniemi, Technical Marketing Director at Metsä Board.

The piloted packaging concept is manufactured from Metsä Board’s paperboard which is suitable for direct food contact and is recyclable. Furthermore, the packaging can be easily personalized to the restaurant. The packages are designed and manufactured by a Finnish company, Cadpack Oy. Package Testing & Research Oy is responsible for coordinating the pilot as well as for the consumer study. The pilot project will continue until the end of May 2019.

The innovation competition, funded by the City of Helsinki and Business Finland, was organized to find new technological and other innovative solutions specifically for food and food production, and also packaging, circular economy and clean technologies. The competition jury consisted of members representing the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki and the business sector.