Ence, a company engaged in sustainable cellulose production, has developed a range of renewable packaging made from moulded cellulose to replace plastic in the food sector.
The company’s new containers are expected to be available in the market this financial year (FY25).
These containers, including trays for fresh and ready meals, align with circular economy principles, being both compostable and recyclable.
With an initial investment of €12m ($13.6m), Ence aims to reach a production capacity of 40 million containers by 2026.
The company’s move towards sustainable packaging is a response to market and societal demands for environmentally friendly alternatives.
Ence is also making a strategic shift towards speciality pulp. Special products made up 35% of the company’s pulp sales in the first quarter of 2025, with expectations to surpass 60% by 2028.
The incorporation of the first fluff line at the Navia biofactory, set to launch in late 2025, will support the European absorbent hygiene products industry, currently reliant on imports from North America.
The Navia biofactory project is poised to reduce the carbon footprint of absorbent hygiene products by utilising locally sourced and compostable fibres.
Ence is moving towards a business model that promotes the minimisation and reuse of raw materials. The model focuses on the manufacture of renewable and fully recyclable products, as well as renewable energy generation.
Last month, the Xunta de Galicia body granted an environmental impact statement for Ence’s bleached recycled biofibre project in As Pontes, Spain.
