Packaging research increasingly important for consumer goods. Billerud becomes first papermaker in the world with own development centre for packaging for fresh produce

Packaging research increasingly important for consumer goods. Billerud becomes
first papermaker in the world with own development centre for packaging for
fresh produce

Goods worth massive sums are destroyed every year because of poor quality
packaging. Billerud is now establishing its own development centre for packaging
research focused on corrugated containers that will be the first of its kind in
the world. It will help provide consumers with better quality fruit and
vegetables, among other products.

Packaging is often the weak link for exports. Each year in Europe, fruit and
vegetables worth around ten billion euros are destroyed because they are
packaged in boxes that are damaged during transport causing the contents to be
damaged, too. Growers try to avoid this problem by harvesting unripe fruit and
vegetables and produce that is harder and thus more resistant to bumps and jolts
during the transport phase. That means, for example, that people in Scandinavia
eat less nutritious fruit and vegetables because the supply of nutrients ends as
soon as the fruit is harvested. Billerud is now intensifying its research into
transport packaging. The company's new laboratory, Billerud Box Lab, will be
inaugurated on June 28 at 10 am.

“We have previously performed research into stronger fibre-based transport
packaging, and we are now stepping up this initiative. We are probably the first
papermaker in the world with its own development centre of this kind. The new
laboratory will take the development of corrugated boxes to the next level,”
explains Lennart Eberleh, head of Billerud's Packaging Boards business area. 

At Box Lab, Billerud's experts will measure the long-term performance of boxes
and perform tests in a climate chamber where temperatures and moisture levels
can be varied to mirror conditions in the transport phase for filled packaging.
Five additional compression testers will be installed in the climate chamber.
This will help to increase the pace and quality of testing work and the number
of customer-oriented development projects.

”While we were developing Billerud Flute®, which is the strongest fluting on the
market, we acquired extensive knowledge about the optimum design of extreme
packaging. Now we want to take this knowledge one step further and help
suppliers of fruit and vegetables who are currently losing value due to
inefficient packaging. We wish to develop a global standard for corrugated boxes
that tolerates the toughest conditions,” says Per Lindberg, President and CEO of
Billerud.

Billerud Flute® is based on 100% primary fibre and is sold all over the world to
containerboard producers, with a main focus on packaging for fruit and
vegetables, meat and heavy duty items. Billerud also sells liner that forms the
outer layer of corrugated board. This liner is made of primary fibre and is
suitable for direct contact with food as well as having the strength needed for
demanding transport situations.

Stockholm
20 June 2007
Billerud AB (publ)


Per Lindberg
President and CEO

For further information, please contact 
Per Lindberg, President and CEO, +46 8-553 335 00
Lennart Eberleh, Business Area Director, Packaging Boards, +46 555-41037

If you would like to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Box Lab at
the Gruvön mill, please contact Marianne Jonsson, Information Officer at Gruvön,
tel. +46 555 416 99 or Marianne.jonsson@billerud.com


Billerud is a packaging paper company. The company's business concept is to
offer customers packaging materials and solutions that promote and protect their
products - packaging that is attractive, strong and based on renewable
materials. Billerud has a world-leading position within several product segments
including paper for consumer packaging and industrial applications. Production
takes place at three integrated pulp and paper mills in Sweden and at one paper
mill in the UK.