Sun Chemical and Archipelago Technology Partner to Accelerate Fibre-Based Packaging Adoption
Sun Chemical has entered a comprehensive partnership with Archipelago Technology Group to accelerate the market adoption of paper-based packaging. Through the development and supply of advanced coating solutions, including new barrier-layer technology, the collaboration will help customers improve packaging sustainability and comply more effectively with EPR and PPWR requirements.
Combining Archipelago’s proprietary Powerdrop™ non-contact coating technology and integrated application process with Sun Chemical’s advanced liquid barrier and resistant coatings—including optional heat-seal functionality—the partnership will deliver high-performance solutions for paper-based packaging. Suitable for both 2D substrates and 3D moulded-fibre containers, these technologies will provide brands and packaging manufacturers with durable alternatives to conventional plastic and composite packaging structures.
The partnership’s first approved coating, BARV656: VAPORBLOC DFC HOTFOOD, has successfully completed testing and validation and is now commercially available.
“Molded fiber packaging combines strong sustainability credentials with the potential for a lower carbon footprint than many conventional packaging formats,” says Pete Saunders, Global Director, Digital Businesses, Sun Chemical. “But untreated cellulose lacks the necessary barrier properties to resist oil, water and gases. Traditional alternative paper-based packaging, on the other hand, relies on the addition of plastic layers, whether lamination or extrusion, making the resulting composite material more difficult to recycle. Archipelago’s Powerdrop technology solves this problem by applying a highly efficient, ultra-thin functional coating layer at high throughput and with very low levels of waste, creating a uniform, high-performance barrier layer for demanding packaging applications.
“By then pairing the capabilities of Sun Chemical’s advanced barrier coatings with the Powerdrop coating application technology, we can keep the total weight of the coating well under the critical 5% threshold. Crucially, this means that the container remains a highly pure cellulose monomaterial that can be recycled through existing paper infrastructure without specialized sorting.”
The partnership comes at a pivotal time for the packaging industry. The European Union’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) became generally applicable in August 2026, introducing binding recyclability requirements across EU member states.
Under the regulation’s grading framework, packaging will increasingly be assessed according to its recyclability performance, influencing both market access and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees. Monomaterial packaging achieving at least 95% recyclability may qualify for Grade A, benefiting from continued market access and the lowest EPR fee levels. In contrast, heavily laminated structures could struggle to meet future requirements, potentially affecting their long-term commercial viability.
By enabling coating weights to remain below the 5% threshold, Archipelago’s Powerdrop™ platform could help packaging developers pursue designs aligned with the highest PPWR recyclability grades.
“For years, Archipelago has maintained that barrier coatings must be designed into the fabric of molded fiber packaging from the outset, rather than treated as an afterthought,” said Guy Newcombe, CEO of Archipelago Technology. “With the PPWR taking effect this August, the window for stopgap, heavily laminated packaging is rapidly closing. Our agreement with Sun Chemical allows us to deliver a complete, proven platform. We are giving the industry a practical tool to achieve high barrier performance while supporting packaging designs intended to meet evolving European recyclability requirements.”
Source: SunChemical
