For food brands looking for plastic-free alternatives, Kapag has developed the “Changemaker” concept, which utilizes high-quality materials from Sappi to create innovative barrier packaging.
Kapag has created the “Changemaker” brand for all laminated carton-board products that aim to replace or significantly reduce plastics in packaging. The name “Changemaker” is intended to express that “everyone can become a changemaker for the good of our planet by buying, processing and using renewable materials”, the company says.
This development combines Sappi’s premium paperboard Algro Design or Fusion Topliner with its functional barrier paper AvantGuard to provide a 100 percent paper-based, recyclable mono-material solution for food that eliminates the need for plastic-based alternatives.
High-Fat Donuts Safely Packaged
Changemaker was presented for the first time at FACHPACK and shows how Kapag’s laminating technology can produce sustainable packaging without compromising on performance. The concept uses a special lamination process to combine the Algro Design board or Fusion Topliner with the functional AvantGuard high-barrier paper from Sappi. At FACHPACK 2024, a sample packaging with a barrier for highly fatty baked goods such as doughnuts was presented. However, the same concept can offer different types of protection, including oxygen barriers, aroma protection, water vapour barriers, and protection against contamination. “And all while maintaining the excellent printability and processing performance of Sappi’s premium substrates,” the company says.
The partnership leverages the greatest strengths of both companies. Sappi's groundbreaking advances in functional barrier papers such as AvantGuard offer the ideal material combination in combination with the premium cartons Algro Design or Algro Volume as well as the Fusion corrugated base papers. On the outside of the packaging, Algro and Fusion products provide outstanding printing and finishing results, while AvantGuard barrier papers offer the necessary functional protection.
“Plastic Barriers Become Superfluous”
With its own Algro Duo brand starting at 450 g/m2, Kapag offers increased robustness and rigidity by laminating two Algro Design cartonboard sheets. The Changemaker concept combines both packaging cartons and liners with Sappi barrier solutions, eliminating the need for plastic-based barriers.
Kapag’s lamination capabilities allow for almost unlimited technical solutions, explains Alexander Meyer, managing owner of Kapag, adding that the company is able to process materials from roll to roll with widths from 5 cm to 250 cm and produce sheet formats up to 360 cm long. Their expertise allows them to combine different materials, from laminated papers with less than 150 micrometres to a total thickness of 5 mm.
“The food industry has been looking for packaging alternatives that don’t compromise on functionality,” says Alexander Meyer. “Our partnership with Sappi allows us to leverage their premium board and barrier technologies with our specialized laminating expertise to develop packaging that meets both environmental goals and practical food safety requirements.”
At FACHPACK 2025, the Changemaker concept will be featured again at Kapag’s booth, including through the live distribution of freshly packed cinnamon rolls. This year’s packaging will be produced using materials other than Sappi’s. Other packaging applications will also be on display at the stand.