Stora Enzo's Papira to bring circular bioeconomy into the packaging industry

With sustainability and a circular waste management in focus – the Papira^® design team is ready to disrupt and conquer. This revolutionising wood-based foam is renewable, biodegradable, fully recyclable … and it’s pearly white.

For over a decade, Stora Enso has been pioneering the research and development of bio-based, cellulose foam packaging. As part of their innovation strategy, Papira^® is designed to reduce plastics and waste in future packaging solutions.

Fiber-based and Plastic-free
The design team at Stora Enso are making sure that Papira^® stays aligned with industry needs and demands. And the clients are always surprised when presented with the sustainability features.

From high-level concepts and idea proposals to detailed, production-ready, and physically tested structural drawings. Senior Packaging Designer Liga Viksne started working with Papira^® on her first day at Stora Enso four years ago.

“Papira is a truly surprising fiber-based cushioning material, perfect for replacing most fossil-based foams. It has excellent shock absorbing properties, making it ideal for products that need to withstand various external hazards during shipment,“ says Viksne. “Additionally, it looks appealing with its pearly white, smooth surface or, conversely, its open fiber structure, giving it a ‘luxurious without harm’ appearance”.

We solve a problem
Viksne explains that the design process is pretty standard, but always individually executed depending on the case:

“We usually start with an introduction from the business developer, meeting the customer, and setting up the brief – understanding the product and the customer’s problem. Because that is what we do, we solve a problem. Then I receive the product sample, and the creative part can start. Sketching and drawing, 3D modeling, and finally prototyping and testing. Preferably, we meet with the customer in between to ensure I am on the right track”.

The material is easy to work with, as most converting technologies can turn a sheet of Papira^® into a solution. It allows designers to be creative and come up with new ways to utilise it. And they still haven’t discovered them all!

www.storaenso.com