Paper-Based Packaging Alliance Forms to Challenge Plastic Dominance

The PaperFlex Consortium, formed by six major consumer goods companies, aims to develop sustainable paper-based packaging solutions. The consortium's founding members include Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever.

Paper is the only packaging material that is both widely recyclable and compostable, but it has its limitations. According to Pablo Costa, Global Head of Packaging, Digital and Transformation at Unilever, engineering paper to perform like plastic is one of the most complex material science challenges facing packaging R&D today.

The consortium's work is guided by six design criteria, including recyclability, biodegradability, and responsible sourcing. These criteria were set out in a 2026 report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which was endorsed by 48 businesses, NGOs, investors, and academics.