Moelven Wood and Billerud collaborate to develop a new packaging

Moelven Wood and Billerud are joining forces to examine the possibility of developing a new sustainable packaging solution for Moelven’s interior panels. The goal is to create a paper-based solution to replace the current plastic shrink wrap. The collaboration stems from an innovation competition organized by Paper Province.

In September, 19 companies submitted 22 solution proposals to Moelven Wood’s packaging challenge – to find a more sustainable packaging for their wooden interior panels. Out of these, Ahlstrom, Billerud, Boxon, Lignin Industries, and T-Emballage were selected to work on the challenge during MoelvenHackathon. The innovation competition was arranged by the forestry bioeconomy cluster Paper Province and held in Karlstad, Sweden, on December 11 and 12.

During the competition, the companies fine-tuned their solutions with support from mentors in business and product development, communication, value proposition, and materials. At the final, the companies pitched their proposals to Moelven’s jury who announced Billerud, and their fiber-based packaging solution, as the winner.

« Billerud’s team presented a sharp and concrete solution that conveys sustainability, reflects the content, and visually stands out in stores. We are confident that we together can develop a packaging with good technical properties, that can add value to our products and have an achievable implementation in the factory, » says Tjalling Chaudron, Product Development Manager at Moelven Wood.

Replacing the current shrink wrap packaging with one made from renewable materials is a step towards reducing Moelven Wood’s carbon footprint. « The packaging solution that we presented offers a modern and attractive packaging for a modern and attractive panel, » says Björn Larsson, Business Development Manager at Billerud. In January, the companies will start the development of the packaging, aiming to offer Moelven’s future customers products with a fossil-free packaging.

Moelven is the second company in Sweden to use the Bioboosters innovation hackathon. The method is currently being developed in an international Interreg initiative involving nine participants in seven countries.