Yangi introduces dry-formed fiber tray as scalable alternative to plastic food packs

SWEDEN – Yangi has launched a production-ready dry-formed fiber tray for meat, fish, deli and ready-meal applications, positioning the solution as a high-volume, lower-carbon alternative to conventional plastic and wet-molded fiber formats.

At the core of the innovation is Cellera, Yangi’s proprietary dry-forming machine, engineered to deliver cost-competitive output at industrial scale.

According to the company, the system combines dual-drum airlaid formation, in-line custom pad formation and precision transfer technology to create consistent fiber structures with repeatable accuracy.

Unlike traditional molded fiber processes, Cellera eliminates the wet stage, simplifying production and reducing process complexity.

Yangi reports cycle times of four to six seconds, enabling industrial-scale throughput suitable for high-demand food packaging operations.

The newly launched tray is manufactured from renewable fibers and is PFAS-free. A functional laminate is selectively applied in high-demand barrier areas, while integrated fiber chemistry ensures required outer-surface properties.

Recyclability depends on the laminate selected, allowing converters to tailor performance and end-of-life characteristics according to market requirements.

Hanna Rudel, chief commercial officer at Yangi, said the tray can be customized to meet specific barrier, design and product needs.

She noted that the solution enables brands and converters to adopt fiber-based packaging without compromising on cost, functionality or aesthetics.

Founder Anna Altner added that the tray offers approximately 80% lower CO₂ impact compared with plastic alternatives, alongside renewable material inputs and scalable industrial reliability.

She described the launch as a signal that dry forming is emerging as a new benchmark in fiber-based packaging for food.

The trays are available in bleached and unbleached variants and can be produced in customised sizes.

Design options include debossing, full-surface high-resolution digital printing and a label-ready finish.

According to Yangi, the trays meet food-contact requirements and maintain structural integrity under chilled, frozen, microwave and oven conditions.

They also support sealing and are compatible with modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), broadening their applicability in fresh and prepared foods.

Yangi’s launch comes amid accelerating “fiberization” across the food packaging sector. Recently, ProAmpac expanded its ProActive Recyclable RP-2000 High Barrier Series to include a curbside-recyclable, fiber-based solution.

Meanwhile, Mondi, together with Pacapime Hungary, is rolling out corrugated solutions for fruit and vegetable markets, and DS Smith Tecnicarton has developed corrugated packaging for smart bike-lane separators.

Collectively, these developments underscore growing industry momentum behind fiber-based formats as brands and retailers seek scalable, lower-impact alternatives to plastic food trays.

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