PulPac partners with Future Materials, Yoik to mold fiber-based snus can to challenge plastic dominance

SWEDEN – PulPac has collaborated with Future Materials Sweden and Yoik to develop a fiber-based snus can for the Helwit brand, targeting a smokeless tobacco segment historically dominated by rigid plastic containers.

The partnership brings together PulPac’s dry molded fiber technology with Future Materials Sweden’s injection molding expertise.

Under a newly signed license agreement, Future Materials is now authorized to commercialize items using the DMF process.

The project has moved into product validation, with performance testing and compatibility trials underway on Yoik’s filling lines.

Engineering for the Daily Grind

Snus cans face demanding requirements.

They are opened and closed repeatedly, must maintain dimensional accuracy, and need a premium surface finish meeting consumer expectations.

The fiber-based concept has been engineered to withstand frequent handling while protecting contents.

PulPac’s technology enables high-speed production of rigid fiber packaging with significantly lower resource consumption than traditional wet molding.

According to the company, the process can reduce carbon emissions by up to 90 percent while operating up to ten times faster.

From Concept to Commercial Reality

Sanna Fager, PulPac’s chief commercial officer, noted that what excites her is how quickly they have moved from identifying a promising segment to developing a new packaging concept.

Morgan Svensson of Future Materials Sweden confirmed positive early customer feedback, with substantial volume potential from Swedish and U.S. players.

Validation and Industrialization Underway

The snus can is undergoing structured product validation, including compatibility assessments with Yoik’s filling equipment.

Further iterations are expected as the partners refine the design for consistency at scale. Planning is also underway for future industrialization, optimizing production processes and tooling.

Why This Matters for Packaging

The smokeless tobacco sector represents a high-volume packaging category where plastic has long reigned.

A successful fiber-based alternative could open doors to broader adoption in other rigid packaging applications.

The Road Ahead

If validated at scale, the fiber-based snus can could serve as proof point for dry molded fiber technology in demanding applications.

By combining innovation, expertise, and design, the partners aim to demonstrate that sustainable alternatives can match the performance of the plastic packaging they seek to replace.

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