Huhtamaki recently participated as a guest speaker at Henkel’s 3rd Henkel Consumer Brands R&D Forum, a global event bringing together over 100 professionals from Henkel around the world to exchange knowledge and explore the future of sustainable packaging.
During the session, Graeme Smith, an industry-recognized expert from Huhtamaki, explored the relationship between paper and plastic in flexible packaging, sparking a meaningful discussion on how these materials can coexist as complementary solutions in the transition toward more sustainable systems.
The event provided an excellent platform to examine the differences between paper and plastic packaging materials, emphasizing that the right choice depends on multiple variables, including barrier requirements, cost threshold, and journey to the consumer.
Showcasing Huhtamaki’s Dual Expertise
The forum provided an opportunity to showcase Huhtamaki’s broad capabilities in both paper and plastic packaging, demonstrating how the company helps customers find the right material fit for their sustainability goals while maintaining technical performance and product integrity.
“The transition to more sustainable packaging isn’t about choosing one material over another — it’s about understanding the full system and making decisions that balance functionality, recyclability, and consumer needs,” said Graeme Smith, Head of Core R&D and Product Sustainability, Huhtamaki. “
“Partnerships like this one with Henkel help us ensure that sustainability ambitions are achievable in practice,” added the Huhtamaki team. “By combining technical expertise and customer insights, we can create packaging solutions that truly make a difference.”
Looking Ahead
The collaboration laid a strong foundation for continued dialogue between Huhtamaki and Henkel — aiming to align sustainability goals, material innovation, and real-world performance to redefine what’s possible in the packaging industry.
