Fiberdom/Kiefel partner for fibre-based packaging/dry forming technology
Finland-based wood fibre supplier Fiberdom and packaging machinery supplier Kiefel are in partnering to accelerate the development and commercialisation of fibre-based, fully recyclable, and home compostable packaging. The collaboration combines Fiberdom's Duranova material with Kiefel's dry fibre forming technology to deliver packaging solutions, which are plastics-free.
Fiberdom’s patented technology transforms FSC-certified pulp and paperboard into a durable, mouldable, and fully plastic-free material. Already commercially proven, the material is used in 100% plastic-free, home-compostable single-use cutlery available through leading retailers and B2B wholesalers in Finland. The partnership builds on Fiberdom’s market entry with the single-use cutlery and sets the stage for expanding Duranova’s application to new packaging formats and new markets.
The partnership will initially focus on solutions that are ideally suited to dry forming technology, requiring high material strength and formability in 3D structures, as well as low weight and material efficiency.
For example, certified home compostable beverage cup lids, margarine container lids, and single-use cutlery. Several market-ready applications are already possible, with final testing and fine-tuning currently underway in Kiefel's laboratories. Here, through R&D, the scope of the technology is also being explored to identify additional applications to replace non-essential plastics with fiber-based alternatives.
Packaging applications with complex shapes and high-performance requirements are traditionally produced using a wet forming process to prevent cracks and wrinkles during forming. However, Kiefel's dry forming technology offers distinct advantages for certain types of packaging applications, providing an efficient solution for products with specific geometric requirements.
By combining Duranova material with Kiefel's dry forming machinery and moulding expertise, the partnership can deliver eco-friendly solutions that optimise resource efficiency for appropriate applications. For example, for certain product geometries, dry forming processes in conjunction with Fiberdom's formability and bending resistance can result in significant water use reductions, energy efficiency improvements, and enhanced material cost-effectiveness.
Kiefel has also filed several patents for process and tooling technologies that enable high-quality product forming even with simple and cost-efficient roll-fed materials. This makes the technology even more economical while broadening the range of raw materials available for sustainable packaging solutions.
The collaboration addresses critical market demands as the packaging industry faces increasing pressure from evolving legislation, such as the European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which mandates increased recyclability of materials and reductions in the amounts of conventional plastic packaging.
At the same time, consumer demand for environmentally responsible packaging is continuing to rise. As a result, the fibre-based packaging market is forecasted to expand from US$406 billion in 2025 to US$566 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 3.85% from 2025 to 2034.
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