A German startup created a paper alternative to bubble wrap, protecting products in shipments without plastic and already supported by European work.
Three friends from Germany They developed an alternative to the classic plastic bubble wrap, using exclusively paper. The solution, named PapairWrap, designed to protect products in paper boxes, offering shock absorption without the use of plastic. The package is recyclable and compostable, while intended for use in e-commerce, storage and transport of fragile products.
PapairWrap replaces air bubbles of conventional bubble wrap with a flexible paper structure, which reduces the movement of products into the box and absorbs part of the vibration during transport. The aim is to offer corresponding protection without significantly increasing the weight or volume of the packaging so that it can be easily incorporated into existing packaging lines.
From a startup to a European project of EUR 13 million
Papair was founded in Hanover by Christopher Feist, Fabian Solf and Steven Widdel, while production takes place in the Rethem an der Aller Lower Saxonyth. The company acquired Innovation Gallery Award at the Packaging Innovations & Emback exhibition in the United Kingdom, strengthening its presence in the sustainable packaging sector.
At the same time, it coordinates the European BIOWRAP programme, financed through the Horizon Europe with EUR 13,011.022,25. The project involves 14 partners from seven European countries with the aim of developing industrial-scale technology. The BIOWRAP provides for the construction of a pilot production line, the development of new paper compositions and biological coatings, as well as the testing of the new packaging under real industrial conditions.
According to the project plans, the plant's production capacity could be to reach 17.2 to 25.8 million square meters of material annually, depending on the operating model to be selected. BIOWRAP is also linked to the new European targets for packaging, which provide for the design of recycling-based materials by 2030. In this context, the project examines not only the performance of the new paper packaging, but also the possibility of recycling, composting or reuse it to be a viable alternative to plastic protective materials.
