Expert Interview: Innovation Manager Anna Anderson-Elzer on Barrier Solutions and PPWR Requirements
ARTIKEL
Mayen, 01. September 2026 – WEIG Innovation Manager Anna Anderson-Elzer discusses in our expert interview why recycled cartonboard requires specific barrier solutions and what requirements the PPWR entails.
1. When we talk about a “barrier”, this is initially a very broad term. What different functional requirements can it encompass?
“Barrier” is indeed a term that can encompass a wide range of functions. Depending on the application, this may include protection against moisture, water vapour, grease, oil, oxygen or aroma loss. In other applications, migration also plays an important role.
From my perspective, there is no single perfect barrier. The first question should always be: What exactly does my product need to be protected from – and for how long?
Only once that is clear can a suitable barrier solution be developed.
2. What new applications can functional barriers open up for recycled cartonboard? Where do you see the biggest technical challenges?
Functional barriers can significantly broaden the range of applications for recycled cartonboard. They can safely open up applications that have traditionally relied on virgin fibre or more complex composite materials.
This is particularly relevant for more demanding applications where, for example, moisture or grease resistance is required.
The challenge is to add this functionality without compromising the advantages of recycled cartonboard – above all its recyclability. The barrier must perform reliably, be suitable for industrial processing and, at the same time, fit the best possible recycling concept.
It is precisely this balance that makes the topic so interesting.
3. What are the particular challenges associated with recycled cartonboard when integrating additional barrier functions?
Recycled cartonboard is a highly capable material, but by its nature it has a different material history and can show somewhat greater variation than a material made exclusively from virgin fibres. This can affect properties such as surface characteristics, porosity or absorbency. A barrier solution designed for recycled fibres must be able to cope with these variations reliably.
It is not enough to achieve a good barrier value on a perfect laboratory sample. The solution must also perform robustly and reproducibly under industrial conditions.
From my perspective, this is one of the key points.
4. How important is the principle of “as much barrier as necessary, as little as possible” when developing fibre-based packaging?
The highest possible barrier performance does not automatically result in the best packaging. If an application only requires a certain level of protection, it makes little sense from an economic and recycling perspective to use more material or functionality than necessary.
That is why I like the following principle: We should not ask how much barrier performance is technically possible, but how much is actually needed.
This reduces complexity and material use and can at the same time offer benefits in terms of processing and recyclability.
5. Which parameters are decisive when defining the appropriate barrier profile for a packaging application?
For me, the product always comes first. How sensitive is it to moisture, oxygen, grease or aroma loss? What shelf life is required? How is it transported and stored? What temperatures and climatic conditions will it be exposed to?
The next step is to consider the requirements of the packaging and processing chain: How will it be printed? How will it be die-cut, creased, glued or folded?
The appropriate barrier profile is therefore not determined by a single measurement. It results from the interaction between the product, the packaging and the process. Early coordination between all parties involved is particularly important.
6. How is the PPWR changing the requirements for barrier solutions for recycled cartonboard, particularly with regard to recyclability and “Design for Recycling”?
The PPWR reinforces a trend that we are already seeing, recyclability is increasingly evolving from a pure sustainability argument into a fundamental design requirement.
The Regulation has applied since 12 August 2026. From 2030, packaging is to be assessed according to Design for Recycling criteria. From 2035, an additional question will be whether packaging can actually be recycled at scale.
For barrier solutions, this means that it will no longer be sufficient to focus solely on the protective function. During development, we also need to consider how coatings, board, printing inks, adhesives and other components behave in the recycling process.
I do not necessarily see this as a limitation. On the contrary, it also represents an opportunity for recycled cartonboard. Combining high functionality with good Design for Recycling, can open up additional applications for recycled cartonboard.
The overall direction of the PPWR is clear: by 2030, packaging is to be recyclable and designed with greater emphasis on circularity from the outset. These are very good conditions for the use of recycled cartonboard.
