Sun Chemical, Archipelago Partner for Fibre-Based Packaging Solutions

Sun Chemical announced a comprehensive partnership with Archipelago Technology Group to support increased adoption of paper-based packaging solutions in the market. 

The agreement will help customers improve sustainability and navigate EPR and PPWR requirements more effectively through the development and supply of coating solutions, including new barrier layer technology.

They are combining Archipelago’s proprietary Powerdrop non-contact coater and end-to-end coating process with Sun Chemical’s advanced liquid barrier and resistant coatings, including optional heat seal capability. 

The partnership brings high-performance liquid coatings to paper-based packaging. Applications include 2D substrates and 3D molded fiber containers, providing consumer brands and packaging manufacturers with durable alternatives to plastic and composite structures.

The first approved coating from the partnership, BARV656: VAPORBLOC DFC HOTFOOD, has completed testing and validation and is now commercially available.

By helping maintain coating levels below the 5% threshold, the Powerdrop platform has the potential to support packaging designs targeting the highest PPWR recyclability grades.

“Molded fiber packaging combines strong sustainability credentials with the potential for a lower carbon footprint than many conventional packaging formats,” said Pete Saunders, Global Director, Digital Businesses, Sun Chemical. “Traditional alternative paper-based packaging, on the other hand, relies on the addition of plastic layers, whether lamination or extrusion, making the resulting composite material more difficult to recycle. Archipelago’s Powerdrop technology solves this problem by applying a highly efficient, ultra-thin functional coating layer at high throughput and with very low levels of waste, creating a uniform, high-performance barrier layer for demanding packaging applications.

“For years, Archipelago has maintained that barrier coatings must be designed into the fabric of molded fiber packaging from the outset, rather than treated as an afterthought,” said Guy Newcombe, CEO of Archipelago Technology. “With the PPWR taking effect this August, the window for stopgap, heavily laminated packaging is rapidly closing. Our agreement with Sun Chemical allows us to deliver a complete, proven platform. We are giving the industry a practical tool to achieve high barrier performance while supporting packaging designs intended to meet evolving European recyclability requirements.”