Carton, Board & Paper
Parkside laser and material innovation transforms paper & board packaging
frustration in on-the-go settings. Similarly, perforations for multipacks facilitate clean, precise separations, making it easier to design packaging for portion control strategies that reduce overconsumption and ultimately boost sales through perceived value. However, converters may encounter
he food packaging industry is craving advanced functional features in paper and board substrates. Among customers, demands are escalating for solutions that deliver resealability, breathability and easy portioning – capabilities once limited to plastics – while supporting the shift to fully recyclable alternatives. Brands are prioritising resealable formats that extend product usability and signifi cantly cut food waste, particularly in
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freshness-critical applications like snacks, dry goods and bakery items where repeated access to a pack is a common need.
There are a range of features available to packaging designers that can support these goals. Breathable microperforations, for example, enable the production of produce packs that can better manage humidity and prolong the shelf life of their contents. Easy-open mechanisms off er intuitive, mess-free access to eliminate
signifi cant hurdles in integrating these advanced functionalities into recyclable paper substrates. Such packs must maintain optimal runnability on existing machinery, preserve high print quality for brand diff erentiation and ensure full compliance with relevant kerbside recycling requirements. Using Recofl ex from Parkside, converters can create packaging that does more than protect a product. This material combines with laser scoring technology to create easy-open solutions that remove the need for zips, tear strips and extra components. The system excels in adding quick-and-easy microperforations for tearable openings, as well as full perforation lines that divide snackable and sharing packs into perfect portions.
Achieving these outcomes consistently on paper and board presents its own set of technical challenges. Paper fi bres behave diff erently from polymers under laser treatment, requiring precise control over power, speed and beam modulation to avoid burn-through or delamination. At the same time, converters must ensure the packaging still delivers strength and integrity during fi lling, sealing and transport. Success often relies on a deep understanding of material behaviour and close collaboration between substrate developers, machinery specialists and brand owners. When performed eff ectively, this integration of laser processing with fi bre-based materials opens the door to a new generation of sustainable packaging designs. It enables a balance between consumer convenience and recyclability, and provides proof that paper and board can meet the functional expectations once dominated by plastics. As innovation continues, these advances are helping the packaging industry move toward circular, fi bre- based solutions that better merge performance, effi ciency and environmental responsibility.
12
February 2026
www.convertermag.com
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