Nouryon is stepping up its push into sustainable packaging, unveiling a new material it says could reshape paperboard production economics at Pulp and Beyond 2026 in Helsinki this week.

 

The global specialty chemicals company will debut Expancel 081 microspheres, a bulking agent designed to tackle two of the industry’s most persistent challenges: cutting fiber use and reducing energy consumption without compromising quality.

 

Paperboard manufacturers are under mounting pressure to incorporate more recycled fiber and fillers—often at the expense of strength and consistency. Nouryon says its new grade directly targets that trade-off, helping mills maintain stiffness, bulk, and thickness while keeping energy demands in check.

 

The company claims that adding as little as one percent of Expancel 081 can boost bulk and thickness by 15% to 25%, allowing producers to hit performance targets without increasing base weight. It also aims to stabilize production when recycled fiber content rises and improve line efficiency through smoother operations.

 

“Expancel 081 is designed for paperboard mills that need to do more with less less fiber, less energy and less variability,” said Sylvia Winkel Pettersson, vice president for Consumer Goods and Packaging at Nouryon. 

 

“By building bulk from inside the sheet, this new grade helps customers reduce board weight, stabilize quality when using recycled fiber and unlock meaningful cost and energy savings without sacrificing board performance or increasing the risk of delamination.”

 

The launch underscores Nouryon’s broader strategy to expand its footprint in sustainable materials, with packaging solutions housed under its Home and Personal Care business unit within the Consumer and Life Sciences segment.