Seaman Paper has developed a new category of heat-sealable paper packaging designed to provide an alternative to plastic bags, and to be implemented without disruption to existing bagging equipment. The company also states that the new paper substrate is curbside recyclable, is FSC™ certified, and is available in a variety of formats and substrates designed for rapid adoption by brands and converters.
Available as flat sheets and heat-sealable tubes, the new product, which Seaman said works with the majority of OEM form- fill-seal and horizontal flow-wrapper machinery, is offered in translucent, kraft and opaque constructions. This is an attractive selling point for supermarkets and private-label packers, who wish to transition away from plastic without retooling production lines.
Seaman Paper positions the launch as a response to the “increased brand pressure” both commercially and legislatively to eliminate plastic but maintain functional performance. “We are providing a recyclability option that is compatible with existing equipment and allows our customers and brands to make choices without compromise in their sustainability goals,” Seaman Paper Chief Strategy & Commercial Officer Dave Deger said.
Why this is relevant to supermarkets and private label Supermarket chains and private label teams are paying attention to alternatives to packaging materials, not just for marketing purposes, but for practical application. One such solution could provide a heat-sealable paper option that would enable retailers to convert to paper bags for loose produce, bakery goods, or dry goods packaging while still utilizing standard sealing machines in their packing lines. This lowers switching costs and accelerates deployment throughout the store network.
But caveats remain. “Curbside recyclable” depends heavily on local recycling infrastructure — what’s recyclable in one country may not be in another, especially where sortation systems or paper recycling streams are limited. Also, short-term cost differentials and product barrier performance under humid/tropical conditions (for shelf life, grease resistance, etc.) need real-world validation before large scale adoption in markets such as South Asia. Trade outlets that covered the release note these practical adoption questions even as they praise the sustainability angle.
What retailers should check before switching • Confirm the paper’s performance for your specific SKU (moisture, grease, seal quality).
• Test compatibility on your packaging lines (trial runs on FFS/flow-wrapper equipment).
• Verify local recyclability — check with local MRFs and waste management partners.
• Request pricing and lead-time details from Seaman or their regional distributors to assess cost impact.
Takeaway Seaman Paper’s heat-sealable paper packaging is a credible, company-backed innovation that fits squarely into GSN’s beat: packaging, private label and FMCG supply chains. It’s worth covering as a potential near-term enabler for retailers chasing plastic-reduction targets — but any supermarket considering it should run local trials and check recyclability and costs before committing.
