Walki and Lactips Test a New Future for Paper Packaging

Walki Group and Lactips align on recyclable paper coatings, driven by EU regulation and rising industry interest in plastic-free food packaging solutions

16 Dec 2025

A gradual shift is under way in food packaging as suppliers look to reduce plastic use without weakening food safety or performance. A partnership between Walki Group and Lactips reflects that direction, combining fibre-based packaging with biodegradable coating technology designed to work within existing recycling systems, with Europe’s regulatory agenda a central driver.

The collaboration brings together Walki’s experience in paper-based packaging and Lactips’ coatings made from milk protein. The aim is to replace conventional plastic barrier layers with paper solutions that still provide resistance to moisture and grease, key requirements for food applications.

Plastic coatings have long limited the recyclability of paper packaging. While paper is widely recovered, thin plastic barriers often prevent effective recycling, pushing materials towards landfill or incineration. Walki and Lactips say their joint development focuses on coatings that break down during standard paper recycling processes, allowing fibres to be recovered while preserving functional performance.

The project sits within a broader industry effort to pursue what companies describe as practical sustainability. Rather than relying on composting systems that vary by country, packaging suppliers are increasingly prioritising materials compatible with established recycling infrastructure. This is particularly relevant in the EU, where packaging waste rules and extended producer responsibility schemes are tightening requirements for recyclability.

Both groups stress that the work remains at a development and validation stage. Any new material must prove it can perform consistently across different food types, shelf-life demands and climate conditions. Cost will also be a factor as solutions move closer to commercial scale.

Still, the partnership highlights how fibre-based materials are expanding into areas traditionally dominated by plastic films. If biodegradable coatings can meet performance standards and regulatory tests, paper-based formats could take on a wider role in food packaging.

For now, the focus remains on aligning innovation with regulation and existing recycling systems, as suppliers prepare for tougher rules and growing pressure from brand owners to cut plastic use.