Koehler Paper captures luxury packaging award in Paris with 100% recycled greenium line

A milestone for secondary fibers in the premium segment

The European paper and board industry gathered once again in Paris this July for the 2026 PAP'AWARDS, an event that serves as a critical barometer for material innovation. During the celebrated "Nuit du Papier", Koehler Paper secured the top honor in the "Circularité dans l'Emballage de luxe" (Circularity in Luxury Packaging) category. The award recognized the company's premium recycled paper portfolio, marketed under the greenium brand, signaling a definitive shift in how high-end brands approach their packaging substrates.

Manufactured at the Koehler Paper mill in Greiz, Germany, the greenium line is produced using 100% secondary fibers. Historically, the luxury packaging sector—encompassing cosmetics, high-end spirits, and premium retail—has been notoriously resistant to recycled materials. Brand owners have long favored virgin fibers to guarantee structural rigidity, deep color saturation, and flawless execution of post-press treatments like hot foil stamping and deep embossing. Koehler's award-winning substrate effectively dismantles this technical ceiling.

Overcoming the technical hurdles of recycled luxury

The jury in Paris specifically highlighted the material's solid-dyed core and its exceptional processing quality. From a converting perspective, a solid-dyed core is non-negotiable for premium rigid boxes and folding cartons; it prevents the unsightly white edges that typically appear when dark paper is folded or scored. Achieving this level of color consistency and tactile quality using exclusively secondary fibers requires highly advanced stock preparation and dyeing processes, an area where the Greiz mill has heavily invested.

Udo Hollbach, Managing Director of the Koehler Paper Greiz mill, framed the victory as a validation of current market dynamics rather than just a technical achievement. "This award corroborates the fact that premium recycled paper is already playing an important role in the premium and luxury segments today," Hollbach stated. "To put it simply, it's a product that shows that exquisite design, top material quality, and sustainable approaches are all compatible with each other."

Market drivers and the regulatory push

The timing of this recognition in 2026 is highly relevant. With the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) tightening its grip on material lifecycles, luxury brands are under immense pressure to decarbonize their supply chains and integrate circular materials without diluting their brand equity. Converters are actively seeking substrates that offer the printability of virgin board but carry the environmental credentials demanded by modern consumers and regulators alike.

We are already seeing early adopters, such as niche luxury perfume brands, transitioning their secondary packaging to greenium. This indicates a broader market acceptance where recycled content is no longer viewed as a cost-saving compromise or an aesthetic downgrade, but rather as a premium feature that enhances the brand's narrative. Koehler Paper's strategy to directly engage brand owners and designers with an expanded color palette for the greenium range demonstrates a clear understanding of this shifting paradigm.

The technical leap demonstrated by Koehler Paper confirms that the barrier to entry for recycled fibers in the luxury sector is no longer quality, but rather legacy mindset. Will the rest of the high-end packaging market accelerate its transition to secondary fibers before regulatory mandates force their hand? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai