Cascades challenges virgin fibre dominance with 100% recycled lithoURB board

The packaging industry has long wrestled with a stubborn technical trade-off. Achieving premium lithographic print quality on corrugated and folding cartons usually meant relying on virgin fibre liners, sacrificing the circular economy narrative for shelf appeal. Cascades is now pushing the boundaries of recovered paper with the introduction of lithoURB, a 100% recycled and recyclable brown paperboard engineered specifically to close this gap.

Bridging the gap between aesthetics and sustainability

Launched in the current 2026 market landscape, where fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) brands face intense pressure to reduce their environmental footprint, lithoURB targets a highly specific commercial need. Brands want the authentic, natural "brown box" aesthetic that signals sustainability to consumers, but they cannot afford weak graphics, poor ink holdout, or compromised converting performance on high-speed packaging lines.

According to Cascades, lithoURB replaces the virgin-fibre outer layers commonly used for premium litho-laminated packaging without compromising mechanical strength or processing efficiency. The board is optimized for high-end lithographic printing and lamination, where a printed sheet is bonded to a corrugated flute to combine striking visual impact with structural integrity.

Technical specifications and market positioning

The development of lithoURB reflects a broader industry shift towards high-performance recycled materials. Cascades has positioned this grade for demanding applications across the food, beverage, fresh produce, and consumer goods sectors. Potential grocery applications include beverage multipacks, wraparound cases, bag-in-box formats, and club-store promotional packaging.

• Certifications: Packaging manufactured with lithoURB can achieve FSC Mix or 100% Recycled certification.
• End-of-life: The material is pre-qualified as recyclable by How2Recycle.
• Compliance: It meets stringent BRCGS food safety requirements, a critical factor for primary and secondary food packaging.

Hugues Simon, President and CEO of Cascades, emphasized that the new grade provides customers with eco-friendly packaging that directly influences consumer choices in retail environments. Meanwhile, Jean-David Tardif, Executive Vice-President of the Packaging sector, noted that this premium paper solution enables the creation of distinctive packaging that helps brands stand out in the competitive North American market.

Early industry validation

The technical achievement of balancing 100% recycled content with lithographic demands has not gone unnoticed. Cascades lithoURB has already secured The Shelby Report's Sustainability in the Food Industry Award. Furthermore, it has been named a finalist in the Retail Council of Canada's Retail Sustainability Awards for both Innovative Sustainable Product & Packaging Design and Recycled Content Adoption.

As we move through 2026, the demand for packaging that performs flawlessly on the converting floor while delivering a clear environmental message continues to surge. Cascades' investment in advanced recycled paperboard technology demonstrates that the historical limitations of recovered fibre are being systematically dismantled by targeted R&D.

The successful deployment of lithoURB proves that the industry no longer needs to choose between high-end graphic reproduction and circularity. Will other major paperboard producers accelerate their own R&D to match this level of recycled lithographic performance, or will virgin fibre maintain its stronghold in the luxury packaging segment? 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