RUF adopts Koehler NexPlus barrier paper to replace plastic in porridge packaging

Commercial Scalability in Flexible Paper Packaging

The flexible packaging sector has witnessed countless attempts to replace multi-layer plastics, but commercial scalability remains the ultimate litmus test. At Interpack 2026, German food manufacturer RUF Lebensmittelwerk KG provided a clear answer by confirming its transition to Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB for its popular porridge lines. This application replaces conventional polyolefin films with a specialized, heat-sealable barrier paper, marking a tangible shift in dry food packaging strategies across the European market.

RUF's decision to partner with Koehler Paper underscores a broader industry pivot taking place this year. Dry foods like oats and porridge are highly susceptible to mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOSH/MOAH) contamination, which can often migrate from recycled corrugated transport boxes into the product. The Koehler NexPlus Seal Pure MOB substrate integrates a functional mineral oil barrier directly into the paper without relying on extruded polymer coatings or complex metallic laminations.

Operational Efficiency on FFS Lines

From an operational standpoint, the transition is particularly noteworthy for converting and co-packing environments. The newly adopted paper runs efficiently on existing horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal (FFS) equipment. Historically, one of the main hurdles for paper-based packaging in the FMCG sector was a drastic drop in machine speed and weak seal integrity. Koehler has engineered the Seal Pure MOB variant to offer robust heat sealability, ensuring that RUF can maintain its high-volume production throughput without compromising the hermetic seal required to keep the porridge fresh on the shelf.

The sustainability metrics of this shift are straightforward but impactful. By utilizing a mono-material paper structure, the new RUF packaging is fully recyclable in standard European paper and board collection streams. As the 2026 regulatory landscape under the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) tightens around unrecyclable multi-materials, food brands are under immense pressure to find viable end-of-life solutions. Paper mills that invested early and heavily in aqueous dispersion coating technologies are now reaping the rewards of that strategic foresight.

Aligning Product Ethos with Packaging

Koehler Paper's strategic investments at its Kehl facility have positioned the company to capture this surging demand for functional flexible paper. Supplying a heritage household name like RUF Lebensmittelwerk KG validates the performance of the NexPlus range in highly competitive retail environments, where product safety cannot be sacrificed for ecological claims. Beyond the factory floor, the tactile feel of paper communicates an immediate message of natural ingredients to the 2026 consumer. Porridge, inherently marketed as a wholesome breakfast option, benefits visually and texturally from the matte, organic finish of the Koehler paper, creating a perfect alignment between product ethos and packaging material.

As a veteran observer of this sector, seeing a traditional brand like RUF fully commit to functional paper packaging proves that barrier papers have firmly graduated from pilot concepts to industrial realities. How long will it take for the rest of the high-volume breakfast category to permanently abandon flexible plastics? 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