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Stora Enso has improved the printing and environmental credentials of its Natura liquid packaging board in response to customer demand for higher printability and lower basis weights.

The firm has achieved the improvements through a EUR45m (£39.4m) investment in board manufacturing kit at its Imatra mill in Finland. The money, which was spent over the course of 2008 and 2009, was used to reform elements of its machinery including wet-end and press sections. 

The new Natura board, which Stora Enso described as "substantially lighter", is being used by a number of packaging manufacturers, including Elopak, which is using the material to produce milk cartons for use by the Nordic milk market.

The improved processes use fewer raw materials, making production more energy efficient, as well as reducing the weight and CO2 impact made by brand owners.

Vesa Simola, Stora Enso's senior vice president of liquid food service board, said: "The quality of the new Stora Enso Natura reflects our commitment to material efficiency, a low carbon footprint and excellent packaging performance."

"Thanks to the development and expertise gained over the years, the efficiency of our multilayer boards with three pulp components has already been very high in terms of raw material consumption."

Stora Enso's Natura range incorporates board grades for the packaging of milk and dairy products, juice, tea, coffee, wine and water. It is also used by brand owners to package non-food products including detergents and fabric softeners.

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