Salon Paper supplies barrier coated paper and board from Ningbo, China: water-based, PLA, PHA and PE coatings on cupstock and food-grade board, for cups, trays, bowls and food packaging. Plastic-free and repulpable options available, with food-contact documentation.
Water-based, PLA, PHA and PE barrier coatings for food packaging paper and board
A barrier coating is the thin layer that stops liquid, grease or moisture passing through paper. It replaces the plastic film that used to be laminated onto board. The choice of coating decides whether the packaging can be recycled, composted, or neither.
Since the EU PPWR entered into force and single-use plastic rules tightened, buyers increasingly need a coating that keeps performance while staying in the paper recycling stream. That is where water-based coatings changed the picture.
| Coating | Water barrier | Grease barrier | Heat resistance | End of life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE (polyethylene) | Excellent | Excellent | Up to ~90°C | Not recyclable with paper |
| PLA | Good | Good | Up to ~85°C | Industrial composting |
| Water-based (aqueous) | Good | Good | Up to ~90°C | Repulpable — recyclable with paper |
| PHA | Good | Good | Up to ~95°C | Home and industrial composting |
Coat weight for water-based systems typically runs 3–8 g/m² dry, against 12–20 g/m² for PE extrusion. Lower coat weight is one reason water-based coatings can be recycled in the paper stream.
| Substrate | GSM | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Cupstock | 170–300 | Paper cups, ice cream cups, soup bowls |
| Food-grade board | 230–400 | Food trays, clamshells, takeaway boxes |
| Greaseproof base | 40–90 | Wraps, liners, fast-food basket liners |
| White cardboard / FBB | 250–450 | Folding cartons for food |
Food-contact compliance is documented for FDA 21 CFR and EU 1935/2004 / 10/2011, with LFGB and SGS testing on request. Where recyclability is the driver, we supply the coating declaration needed for the PPWR recyclability assessment and can provide repulpability test data.
Background reading: Barrier Coating Technologies 101, PLA vs PHA Coating, and EU PPWR 2026.
| MOQ | 5 tons per grade and size |
|---|---|
| Monthly capacity | 3,000 tons of base paper consumed per month |
| Pricing basis | EXW Ningbo, quoted per m² for sheet and per ton for bulk |
| Payment terms | 30% deposit, 70% before shipment after inspection |
| Sales terms | EXW / FOB (other Incoterms on request) |
| Currency | USD, converted at the exchange rate on the day of payment |
| Samples | Free A4 swatches of stock grades |
| What drives the price | |
|---|---|
| GSM / thickness | Thickness and basis weight of the board |
| Surface finish | PET, OPP, aluminium foil, brushed, matte, high gloss, holographic |
| Single vs double sided | Coated or laminated on one or both faces |
| Sheet size | Standard 787×1092 mm, or cut to your size |
| Quantity | Volume tier pricing |
| Packing | Palletised, on reels, or loose in cartons |
Prices are quoted against your exact specification, so we do not publish a fixed price list. Tell us the product, GSM, finish, sheet size and quantity and we will return a firm quote.
Barrier coated paper carries a thin functional layer that stops liquid, grease or moisture passing through the sheet, replacing the plastic film that used to be laminated onto board.
For most hot and cold cup and food-tray applications, yes. Water-based coatings handle up to roughly 90C and give good grease resistance, while staying repulpable so the pack can be recycled with paper.
Yes, when the coating is a genuine aqueous dispersion with no polyethylene. Ask for the coating declaration - some suppliers use the term loosely.
PLA is industrially compostable under EN 13432 conditions. It is not home compostable, and it needs a separate collection stream.
Water-based (aqueous) coatings are repulpable and compatible with standard paper recycling. PE coated board is not, and PLA needs industrial composting rather than paper recycling.
MOQ is 5 tons per base paper grade, coating type and size.
