Nouryon Launches Expancel 081 Microspheres to Cut Fiber Use in Paperboard
Event summary
- Nouryon introduced Expancel® 081 microspheres at Pulp and Beyond 2026 in Helsinki, April 15–16, 2026.
- Expancel 081 can increase paperboard bulk by 15–25% with just 1% addition, reducing fiber use.
- The product helps maintain sheet properties when using recycled fiber and improves line efficiency.
- Nouryon positions the solution for mills seeking cost and energy savings without sacrificing performance.
The big picture
Nouryon’s Expancel 081 targets a critical pain point in paperboard production: balancing sustainability with performance. As mills face pressure to reduce fiber use and energy consumption, solutions like this could reshape the cost dynamics of recycled packaging materials. The launch aligns with broader industry trends toward lightweighting and circular economy practices in packaging.
What we're watching
- Adoption Pace
- How quickly paperboard mills integrate Expancel 081 into production lines.
- Cost Savings
- Whether the 15–25% bulk increase translates to meaningful operational savings.
- Recycled Fiber Shift
- The extent to which Expancel 081 accelerates the transition to higher recycled fiber content.
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