Sustainability in food packaging just got a serious boost.
Two industry heavyweights — Amcor and Metsä Group — have announced a new partnership to develop molded fiber-based food packaging solutions.
On paper, it’s a simple idea: combine Metsä’s Muoto™ molded fiber technology with Amcor’s high-barrier films and lidding materials to create an eco-friendly alternative to plastic packaging.
In reality?
It’s a bold step that could disrupt the future of food packaging.
Why the Amcor and Metsä molded fiber-based food packaging solutions matter
Let’s get real.
The world is drowning in plastic.
Consumers are demanding sustainable options.
Regulators are tightening the screws on single-use plastics across the EU, UK, and North America.
Brands are desperate for answers that tick two boxes:
Good for the planet
Doesn’t mess with product shelf life
The Amcor and Metsä molded fiber-based food packaging solutions partnership just might deliver both.
Muoto™ is Metsä’s flagship molded fiber product made from Nordic wood pulp — sourced from traceable, renewable forests.
Amcor brings the barrier science: films and coatings that can lock in freshness and extend shelf life.
The goal?
A recyclable, biodegradable packaging solution that can handle everything from ready meals to snack pots.
That’s what makes this announcement so interesting.
It’s not just a feel-good PR move.
It’s a realistic, commercial path to plastic-free food packaging at scale.
Packaging industry insiders watching closely
Anyone in food retail or FMCG knows Amcor and Metsä don’t enter joint ventures lightly.
The decision to team up shows both companies are betting big on fiber-based packaging as the next wave.
And it comes at a moment when molded fiber has been gaining real traction:
CEPI recyclability scores for Muoto™ are expected to exceed 80%
It can run in most paper recycling streams across Europe
The barrier layers make it suitable for more complex food items
Amcor says its ambition is to not just stop at recyclable packs, but to push toward fully compostable molded fiber-based food packaging solutions in the next development phase.
It’s exactly the type of forward-thinking the sector badly needs.
Will molded fiber-based food packaging solutions scale up?
That’s the big question.
The companies have confirmed first commercial volumes are coming to market in Europe before the end of 2025.
In parallel, Metsä is running feasibility studies on building a dedicated large-scale Muoto™ production site.
If it works?
We could be looking at one of the fastest category shifts in packaging in years.
Why retailers and FMCG brands are paying attention
No surprise that early buzz around the Amcor and Metsä molded fiber-based food packaging solutions collaboration is huge.
For supermarkets and major brands, the attraction is clear:
The look and feel of fiber instantly signals “eco” to consumers
Recyclability helps meet looming regulations
Combining molded fiber with barrier layers means they don’t have to compromise on quality or food safety
A win-win that has been elusive for most paper alternatives… until now.
Final thoughts: this could be the blueprint for the next decade
There’s no guarantee molded fiber replaces plastic across the board.
But Amcor and Metsä have created a credible model that others will now have to respond to.
Expect copycat innovation fast.
Expect supermarket buyers to start asking packaging suppliers:
“Can you match what Amcor and Metsä are doing?”
As always in retail packaging, the first mover gets the most attention.
The rest scramble to catch up.
The real winners?
Consumers who want less plastic.
Brands that want compliance + shelf appeal.
The planet, which badly needs fewer single-use plastics.
This is the news GSN readers care about — and we’ll be tracking what happens next.
