Premium packaging paper coatings

Paper and cardboard used in premium packaging (cosmetics, perfumery, fine chocolates, luxury wines, premium electronics, gift wrapping paper, hardcover books) receive specialty coatings that confer specific properties: high gloss or specific matte finish, stain and scratch resistance, grease and oil barrier, paintability for subsequent printing, hot-stamping and screen printing, soft-touch (high-luxury velvet feel). Waterborne PU increasingly dominates this segment for environmental reasons (replaces organic solvents) and for final quality. High-growth applications: luxury packaging with brand-proprietary finishes (Apple is the premium packaging reference); cosmetic and perfumery packaging with barrier properties and soft-touch finish; food packaging replacing plastics (strong global trend of replacing plastic with paper in products such as take-out food packaging, lids, straws). Market in strong growth driven by sustainability and premium packaging.