Fedrigoni expands portfolio with strategic investment in Papkot

LUXEMBOURG – Fedrigoni Group has strengthened its position in sustainable packaging with a strategic minority investment in Papkot, a start-up pioneering an advanced paper coating technology that replicates plastic’s properties without using silicon or cellulose.

Instead, Papkot employs a nanostructured material that eliminates plastic from single-use packaging, offering a fully recyclable and biodegradable solution.

This investment is part of Fedrigoni’s corporate venture capital program, which identifies and scales disruptive innovations in the packaging industry.

By partnering with Papkot, Fedrigoni aims to accelerate the global deployment of this technology, providing major FMCG and F&B brands with access to high-performance, sustainable packaging solutions. 

Founded in 2020 by CEO Manuel Milliery, Papkot specializes in plastic-free coatings that deliver high resistance to water, grease, oil, and glycerol, while maintaining transparency and customizable surface properties—essential for packaging applications.

These coatings, free from harmful substances like PFAS, have been successfully tested across various paper substrates, including virgin and recycled fibers.

The company operates R&D hubs in France and China, alongside contract manufacturing partnerships in France, the US, and China, serving global food and consumer goods brands.

Ongoing industrial trials aim to expand compatibility, catering to the diverse needs of converters and brand owners.

Papkot’s technology enables a wide range of sustainable packaging applications, including disposable food packaging and wrapping, fire-retardant and transparent paper solutions and plastic-free disposable cups. 

By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning, Papkot optimizes its coating performance, accelerates innovation, and customizes solutions for its clients.

Marco Nespolo, CEO of Fedrigoni Group, emphasized the game-changing potential of this investment, “This disruptive Plastic-to-Fiber technology allows us to support our customers in developing mono-material, fully recyclable packaging.

“Our role will be instrumental in scaling up Papkot’s industrialization, ensuring its global market success.”

Fulvio Capussotti, Executive VP of Fedrigoni Special Papers, RFID & Innovation, highlighted the strategic synergy between Papkot’s technology and Fedrigoni’s specialty papers and self-adhesive materials business, “Beyond barrier coatings, this innovation enables the replacement of label liners—traditionally made with silicon—with a fully recyclable material.

“This aligns with our ESG strategy for 2030, which commits to ensuring 100% of our materials are designed for optimal recyclability and end-of-life recovery.”

Manuel Milliery, CEO of Papkot, welcomed the partnership, stating, “Since 2020, our mission has been to eliminate plastic from packaging and daily life.

“Partnering with Fedrigoni, we gain not only strategic investment but also access to a global network and enhanced R&D capabilities. This will significantly accelerate our international expansion and technological advancements.”

With this investment, Fedrigoni and Papkot are set to redefine the future of sustainable packaging, providing innovative, scalable, and environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic.

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