Food packaging is a constant part of our everyday lives but it’s easy for the more “general” food packaging products to go unnoticed. As we pour our cereal into the bowl, rip open a pizza box or snack on a box of cookies, little thought goes into the many regulations, requirements and extremely clever products that go into producing this packaging. So, we asked Lee Andrews, VP of the Paper and Board Business Line for ACTEGA in North America, to lift the lid on the trends and challenges behind bringing these deceptively basic boxes to market.

First, why is the topic of ‘general’ food packaging a subject that should be of interest to readers?

Well, food packaging for general or everyday products – the typical foods you would find in every grocery store – is the single largest segment within the folding carton market.  These products demand high performance coatings to create graphics that pop, protect the package and product and keep the consumer safe.  In addition, coatings that cater to this sector need to be high-performing, run at high-speed, and are designed to be low in cost due to the ever-increasing pressures of this fast-paced, value-driven market.  Combining all of these requirements makes this seemingly ‘everyday’ subject actually quite complex and worthy of a closer look.

But ACTEGA is well-known for its premium coatings and inks, how does your expertise in high-quality printing products translate to products for general food packaging?

ACTEGA has had a long-standing leadership position in some of the most demanding printing markets. Our expertise developing premium coatings to support the most demanding applications allows us to apply these capabilities and resources to all sectors of the industry. We have exceptionally strong teams of R&D chemists and in-field technicians, and the expertise to consult on regulatory requirements to address even the most exacting market challenges. In this case, we’ve taken all these resources and created high performing, low-cost products with the added benefit of the high-level service and support that all ACTEGA’s customers have grown to expect.

So, are these more standard food packaging products new?

Actually no, ACTEGA has been supporting the folding carton market for food packaging for as long as we have been a coatings company in North America. We have a very strong, qualified, stable of products for this market, including many high-gloss, matte, and protective coatings. However, this is a highly dynamic market that is constantly changing as the bar continues to be raised both on the press and on the shelf. ACTEGA is committed to being a leader in this space and we are constantly developing and enhancing our portfolio to be a leader in this market. In addition, we have recently executed a focused review of these products to ensure we are formulating our best solutions at the lowest total cost.

Going back to what brands and customers expect from ‘general’ food packaging products then, how do products like these meet these requirements?

Sustainability is definitely the highest priority for our customers and our customers’ customer. While ACTEGA’s position in the water-based barrier coating market is not new, our ACTGREEN barrier coatings portfolio is pushing the envelope by providing water-based barrier solutions to eliminate polyethylene extruded barriers that simplify the recovery of paper fiber. These products meet the need for an effective alternative to PE laminates and are an example of ACTEGA’s innovative approach to finding new solutions to current market challenges in a safe, effective, and sustainable way.


Lee Andrews is VP of the Paper and Board Business Line for ACTEGA in North America