Sappi’s special papers have won another highly regarded award. This year, the German Packaging Award 2016 in the New Materials category went to the Sappi Guard product family. The packaging awards were announced at a ceremony on September 27, 2016 at Fachpack in Nuremberg, Germany.

The jury praised Sappi’s sustainable paper packaging solutions, which offer integrated barrier and heat sealing properties otherwise only achievable with multi-layer films. Papers in the Sappi Guard product family also have excellent tactile properties and printability, the jury noted.

The award-winning new materials from Sappi’s Functional Papers product group are Algro Guard OHG and Leine Guard M. Belgian confectionery manufacturer Delafaille Chocolatier has opted for Algro Guard OHG for its new chocolate brand Amusette. Leine Guard M is used as outer packaging for teabags of the Tree of Tea brand from mymuesli, among others.

“The German Packaging Award is one of the most coveted awards in the packaging sector in Europe,” says Kerstin Dietze, marketing manager, Speciality Papers at Sappi. “Winning this award affirms our strategic orientation and our leading role in the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in the area of functional papers. The market response to our barrier papers has been very positive. We are already working on further barrier solutions for specific applications.”.

Algro Guard OHG is a paper-based packaging solution with high barrier functionality and excellent heat sealing prperties. This paper for flexible packaging comes with integrated barriers against oxygen, water vapor, grease, aroma and mineral oil. There is no need for additional coatings or adhesives. The first user is Belgian chocolate manufacturer Delafaille. The company’s Amusette brand of luxury chocolate bars are packaged using a conventional flow pack machine normally used for foil packaging, requiring no additional stages of production.

Thanks to the integrated barriers, there is no need to apply special coatings or laminations. This paper responds to market demand for alternatives to foils and plastic. As well as lowering costs, it also reduces environmental impact. In addition, Algro Guard features heat seal characteristics, removing the need for additional sealants. More than 80% of this paper-based packaging solution is comprised of renewable materials.

The ability to achieve flavor preservation, seal strength, user-friendliness, recycling, and tactile and visual impact were essential requirements in the choice of packaging material for Tree of Tea brand teabag envelopes. With Sappi’s barrier paper Leine Guard M, successful startup company mymuesli has found a packaging solution that fulfils all of these criteria. The paper also provides a built-in barrier against mineral oil. Additionally, excellent printing results are achieved with Leine Guard M. The natural character of Tea of Tree organic leaf tea is reflected in the teabag envelope itself; and at the same time, the distinctive Tree of Tea brand image with its many subtle colors was successfully represented on the printed packaging.