Mass Production of Water-based Barrier Paper Technology | Lido's Breakthrough Innovation Accelerates Green Transformation in the Packaging Industry

• Innovative Breakthroughs in Green Packaging Technology

On February 28, 2025, Hunan Lido was invited to participate in the global launch event for the large-scale production of water-based barrier adhesive technology on paper machines, which was jointly organized by APP, BASF, and DBC. This event marks the world’s first large-scale production launch of EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper, promoting the green transformation of the packaging industry.

This innovative technology, integrating new processes and new modes, has broken through the technical bottleneck period of replacing traditional polyethylene (PE)-coated paper packaging. It also accelerates the upgrade towards zero-waste, low-carbon, biodegradable, and recyclable eco-friendly paper packaging, supporting global carbon neutrality ("dual-carbon") and plastic reduction goals.

At the event, the organizers unveiled the world’s first EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper, produced through an integrated one-step process using a modern high-speed paper making machine. This product incorporates BASF’s Joncryl™ water-based barrier eco-friendly material and DBC’s Bioten™ water-based barrier adhesive, developed through joint research. It was successfully formed in a single process on Shandong Bohui’s modern high-speed papermaking equipment, overcoming the technical bottleneck of replacing traditional paper-plastic composite packaging. This technological breakthrough eliminates the need for secondary external coating processing, allowing the product to be directly used in disposable food containers such as paper cups and paper bowls, significantly reducing production costs.

The mass production of EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper is gaining rapid momentum worldwide, sparking a new trend in green consumption. The event attracted nearly 100 leading foreign and domestic food packaging supply chain enterprises, and more than 10,000 tons of procurement agreements were signed on-site. This milestone marks the rapid development commercial application of this cutting-edge technology. The collaboration between APP, BASF, and DBC demonstrates strong international confidence and investment in the Chinese market, injecting powerful momentum into the global green packaging industry.

During the event, several industry leaders delivered important speeches. Mr. Wang Lexiang, CEO of APP Global Paper Division, stated, "The green revolution has entered the stage of industrial breakthroughs. Companies must drive technological innovation through carbon reduction, plastic reduction, intelligent manufacturing, and value chain collaboration."

Dr. Lou Jianfeng, Chairman & President of BASF Greater China, emphasized, "Collaboration drives innovation, and innovation fuels industry growth—this is a shared vision across the industry."

Mr. Lin Fanqiu, Chairman of DBC Group, highlighted, "Pragmatic innovation and win-win cooperation is the key to industry advancement. Cross-enterprise cooperation and innovation is the foundation of this technological breakthrough."

Mr. Zhang Taojie, General Manager of Hunan Lido, was invited to share insights on the production and application of water-based barrier food-grade paper board in disposable paper cups, including detailed application data and the challenges and experiences in production and R&D. He pointed out that compared to traditional PE-coated paper cups, products made with water-based barrier food-grade paper board offer features such as recyclability, biodegradability, compostability, and microwave heating capability. These advantages reduce plastic pollution, reduce cost in all aspects effectively, and drive the green transformation of the food packaging industry. He stated, "In the future, Hunan Lido is committed to being a pioneer in advancing the green and sustainable industry. Together, let’s ignite the flames of green transformation, reshape the ecosystem with technology, and define the future through action!"

As global environmental policies become increasingly stringent, the large-scale production of water-based barrier technology provides a new pathway for the green transformation of the food packaging industry. Experts pointed out that the global demand for functional paper with waterproof and oil-resistant properties reaches 4.2 million tons annually. Statistics also show that the total global annual demand for functional paper is 4.2 million tons, with annual consumption of disposable paper cups exceeding 320 billion, and China is one of the largest consumers in this market.

The large-scale production of EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper not only significantly reduces carbon emissions through recyclability (with an estimated 68% reduction in emission) but also effectively replaces plastic waterproof coatings with its biodegradable properties, reducing microplastic pollution and enhancing the safety and sustainability of food packaging. With APP’s digitalized intelligent production technology, future optimizations in production efficiency, product quality, and the cost of eco-friendly materials are expected.

The newly launched EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper integrates BASF’s Joncryl™ water-based barrier eco-friendly material with DBC’s Bioten™ water-based barrier adhesive, successfully replacing traditional PE/PLA coatings. This breakthrough technology eliminates the need for secondary external coating processes, allowing direct application in disposable food containers such as paper cups and paper bowls, thereby lowering production costs and reducing carbon emissions.

EPP water-based barrier food packaging paper has received multiple international certifications, ensuring compliance with global environmental standards:

• Recyclability– Certified by the German PTS Institute, achieving a 98.8% recycling rate. The paper can be reused in the paper-making process, supporting global environmental protection and allowing efficient reuse in the paper production cycle.

• Biodegradability & Compostability– Meets TÜV Rheinland (Seedling Mark) and Australian ABA Home Composting Certification standards, ensuring full degradation in natural environments and reducing ecological burden.

• Food Contact Safety– Certified by FDA (USA), BfR (Germany), and GB (China) and other food contact material regulations,ensuring that it is safe and harmless to human health when in direct contact with food.

• Heat Resistance & Microwave-Safety– Successfully passed EN15284 microwave heating resistance tests, proving it will not release harmful substances during microwave heating and maintains good packaging performance. Its excellent high temperature resistance ensures the safety of the product in use.

This landmark event received support and guidance from leading organizations, including Shanghai Foreign Investment Association, China Air Transport Association, Shanghai Food Contact Materials Association, Shanghai Quality Supervision and Inspection Institute, Tongji University Circular Economy Research Institute, Guangzhou Green-Point Public Welfare and Environmental Protection Association, Shanghai Environment Resource Utilization Co., Ltd., and Shanghai Ecarbon Tech Co.,Ltd Industry experts emphasized the importance of green packaging and discussed how enterprises can fulfill their social responsibilities in promoting a green transformation.

During the event, the organizers and supply chain partners jointly launched the "Green Packaging Product Collaborative Innovation Platform", aimed at integrating global technological resources, driving the research and application of new processes and new modes, advancing industry standards, and building a fully sustainable green supply chain ecosystem.