Start with pilot plant

The start of production was planned for March 2022, but pandemic and global political events repeatedly delayed the delivery of technology and components for the plant. After an extensive commissioning phase at the mechanical engineering company in Bavaria, things are now finally getting underway at the Rethem site. The demand for sustainable packaging alternatives is high and the need is there. Initially, more than 150 customers from various industries will be supplied with the PapairWrap from the first line. In parallel, pilot projects are taking place with selected customers to evaluate the use of PapairWrap and incorporate the results into further development. "We are starting with our pilot plant first. The second, larger plant is planned for the end of this year to meet the increasing demand and to be able to offer two different product widths." Says CTO Steven Widdel.

No standstill at Papair

The founders of Papair, together with their now 14-member team, have been committed to greater sustainability in the packaging industry since 2020. The start of production of PapairWrap is an important milestone, but mentally the team and the founders are already much further ahead.  Financing has to be secured for the acquisition of further equipment. And PapairWrap can do much more. They are already working on further functionalities of the bubble wrap made of Papair in order to expand the range of applications of PapairWrap. To expand the product portfolio, the development of further products is being pushed forward. In concrete terms, these are sustainable shipping bags, padded shipping boxes, but also individual custom-made products.

Success proves Papair right

Founded in 2020, the start-up has set itself the goal of avoiding plastic waste and, with its paper bubble wrap, bringing a packaging material to the market that combines safety, cost efficiency and sustainability. The success proves the team and its vision right. In December 2022, they won the Durchstarterpreis, a competition organised by the joint initiative of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs and Culture and the Lower Saxony Investment and Development Bank, in the Newcomer/Scale up category. Since 2023, they have been part of the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator and have also reached the finals of the Lower Saxony Innovation Award and the international Sustainable Packaging Awards.