Huhtamaki and Xampla Introduce Plastic Free Barrier Coatings in UK Packaging Market

Huhtamaki and Xampla showcased plant-based plastic-free coatings at Packaging Innovations 2026 in the UK.
The innovation supports recyclable packaging while maintaining strong grease and moisture resistance.

Published Date: 14 May 2026
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Huhtamaki & Xampla Revealed a Series of Plastic-free Coating

At Packaging Innovations 2026 held in Birmingham, UK, Huhtamaki and Xampla displayed their latest folded cartonboard range, which highlighted the plastic-free and plant-based Morro Coating.

Andy Hesp, vice president of Huhtamaki UK & Ireland, and Alexandra French, CEO at Xamplastated that the solution has solved current packaging trends that have been witnessed at the show, such as plastic-free materials, food security, and paperization. The actual big trend for French attendees at Packaging Innovations 2026 is the shift towards plastic-free solutions. Xampla’s Morro coatings are created from natural plant polymers without chemical modification and have been checked plastic-free by the National Physical Laboratory.

The collection has folded cardboard series that has highlighted trays, burger boxes, and pouches, which are crafted for fiber recycling and home composting, with infrastructure enabled. The brand has said that the series allows brands to mainly lower the plastic usage without adjusting grease resistance or pack integrity.

According to Towards Packaging, the UK Plastic-free Barrier Coating market size was projected at USD 420 million in 2025 and is predicted to increase from USD 461.16 million in 2026 to approximately USD 1,069.73 million by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2026 to 2035. The demand for plastic-free barrier coatings is being driven by the urge to substitute regular plastic-lined packaging, which is an eco-friendly and recyclable choice, while tracking necessary grease and moisture resistance.

About Xampla:

Xampla is a material discovery company that has revealed the strength of natural plant polymers, which have made materials that have changed the globe. Depending on the UK, Cambridge, Xampla’s team of global-class scientists, invention professionals, and engineers are making the materials of tomorrow for the actual brands of the current scenario. They have an integrated mission and ethos to update the globe for better things, and are strongly classified as a B Corp Company.

Xampla has patented the technology, which is strongly rooted in over 15 years of research at the University of Cambridge, that is led by Professor Tuomas Knwles and CTO, Dr March RodrigeuzXampla has continuously developed success and overall growth, which are both commercially present in technological development.

About Huhtamaki:

Huhtamaki has played a crucial role in making sure safety and hygiene, and also in assisting and protecting the food waste. They are loyal to creating packaging more circularly and are filled with sustainability in everything they do. It has a complete 100 years of history and rigid Nordic heritage that operates in over 100 locations around the globe. They have a team of 17,400 employees who are operating to serve smart next-generation packaging.

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