Co-development with UPM Specialty Materials
In collaboration with UPM Specialty Materials, Paramelt has developed a proven concept that combines Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 PHA dispersion with UPM’s high‑performance barrier base papers. Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 is tailor made for demanding paper-based food packaging applications.
The pairing between UPM and Paramelt delivers the functional performance required for today’s food packaging, but with significantly lower environmental impact and full compatibility with established paper recycling streams.
Sustainability impact
The sustainability advantages of PHA-based Aquavate™ Bio are rooted in its renewable material composition and dual end‑of‑life compatibility. The co-development between UPM and Paramelt combines paper with a functional coating, enabling:
- A significant reduction in the use of fluorochemicals and fossil‑based plastics
- A recyclable1 paper-based solution, with the grease barrier and sealing performance required for food applications
- The components have been individually validated and home compostable2,3
1 The demonstrated packaging materials are certified recyclable according to Cepi/ 4evergreen v.2
2 UPM barrier base papers are certified as industrially (EN13432:2000) and home (NFT51-800:2015) compostable
3 Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 is a water-based dispersion formulated entirely with biodegradable ingredients, of which 90% is biobased, certified home compostable PHA; In house testing based on modified ISO 20200 has shown that UPM paper combined with Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 meets the disintegration requirement of home compostability protocols.
Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 on UPM papers
Aquavate™ Bio SB 2383 has been tested across multiple UPM substrates and demonstrates consistent, high level performance. Testing shows the following results.
| UPM Product | Coating weight | Grease resistance KIT test equivalent |
WVTR (23°C/85%RH) |
Heat sealing MST on this substrate |
| UPM Solide™ Lucent | 1.8–4.5 g/m² | Up to 12 | 100 – 200 g/m²/day | from 115°C |
| UPM Prego™ | 3.2–5.5 g/m² | Up to 9 | 100 – 200 g/m²/day | from 115°C |
These results underline Aquavate’s suitability for recyclable barrier packaging, offering high performance without compromising sustainability.
Why this new generation water-based technology matters
The packaging industry increasingly demands materials that unite high performance with true sustainability. Aquavate™ Bio technology provides high solids coating emulsions from a wide range of commercially available biodegradable polymers. These coatings can be tailored to deliver many of the functional requirements of the paper packaging sector such as grease resistance, hot‑tack, heat sealing and barrier functionality, traditionally provided by fossil‑based coatings and laminates.
Introducing a new generation of water-based barrier coatings
Aquavate™ Bio
Paramelt is proud to introduce Aquavate™ Bio, a next‑generation water‑based coating technology, designed to accelerate the shift toward fully fibre‑based, recyclable and home‑compostable packaging. With Aquavate™ Bio, Paramelt offers packaging converters a scalable, future‑proof alternative to traditional fossil‑based barrier and heat‑seal solutions.
Aquavate™ Bio is compatible with existing industrial coating processes, allowing converters to adopt the solution without additional investment. This compatibility, combined with strong functional performance, positions Aquavate™ Bio as an exciting new technology to extend the use of recyclable, biodegradable flexible packaging paper.
Aquavate™ Bio is part of the broader Aquavate™ platform, which builds on Paramelt’s unique process technology for dispersing thermoplastic biodegradable polymers and blends. The platform offers a range of dispersions using inherently biodegradable components, certified compostability, high solids, low viscosity and small, stable particle size giving excellent runnability across many coating processes including curtain coating, film press, blade/air‑knife and gravure.
These characteristics make Aquavate™ Bio compatible with high‑speed industrial converting, without requiring process adjustments.
Contact our specialist for more informationDriving the future of fibre‑based packaging
Aquavate™ Bio showcases Paramelt’s commitment to enabling recyclable, high‑performance packaging solutions built on renewable materials. By combining deep formulation expertise with versatile processability, Paramelt delivers technologies that support converters and brand owners as they move toward a circular packaging economy.
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Léon Krings
Business Development Manager Packaging Coatings & Adhesives