Michelman has announced technical sessions on sustainable packaging at interpack 2026. We analyze which barrier coating and recyclable material technologies will be in focus, and what this means for the Russian printing market.
Michelman, a well-known developer of functional coatings for packaging and printing, has announced technical sessions dedicated to innovations in sustainable packaging at the interpack 2026 exhibition. This event is not just an industry seminar, but a marker of the direction in which the global packaging industry is moving. For Russian printing houses, especially those working with food packaging and brands focused on the ESG agenda, understanding these trends becomes a matter of competitiveness.
What will be discussed at Michelman sessions
Although the full session program has not been published yet, based on the company profile and current trends, the key topics can be confidently assumed:
Water-based barrier coatings
Michelman is one of the leaders in the development of water-based barrier coatings that replace extrusion polyethylene (PE) and other difficult-to-recycle layers. The main focus is on creating coatings that provide protection against grease, oxygen, and water vapor, but at the same time allow the packaging to be recycled in standard waste paper streams. The sessions will likely present new formulas for paper packaging for hot and greasy products (fast food, pastries, animal feed).
Recyclability and composting
In the context of tightening regulations in the EU (PPWR) and California (SB 54), the topic of certifying packaging as recyclable or compostable is becoming critical. Michelman will likely showcase cases of how their coatings pass repulpability tests according to PTS, CEPI, or INGEDE protocols. For Russian exporters and companies working with international brands, this is a direct signal: without certified solutions, market access will be limited.
Carbon footprint reduction
It is expected that some sessions will be devoted to life cycle assessment (LCA) of packaging using Michelman coatings. The company is actively developing tools for calculating the environmental footprint of its solutions, which allows packagers and brands to obtain objective data for ESG reporting. This is especially relevant for large FMCG corporations that already require packaging suppliers to confirm environmental characteristics.
Why this is important for Russian printing houses
At first glance, an announcement from a foreign coating manufacturer may seem far removed from the daily work of a printing house in Yekaterinburg. However, there are at least three reasons to closely follow this agenda.
1. Pressure from regulators and retailers
Russia is not introducing direct analogues of the EU PPWR, but large retail chains (X5 Group, Magnit, Lenta) are already implementing their own packaging sustainability standards for private labels. Requirements to reduce the share of plastic, use recyclable materials, and label by recycling type are becoming mandatory conditions for contracting. Printing houses that cannot offer solutions with water-based barrier coatings will lose tenders to those who can.
2. Growing demand for paper packaging
According to industry analysts, the paper packaging segment for food products in Russia is growing by 8-12% per year (according to various estimates). Drivers are the rejection of plastic bags in retail, the 'eco' trend among consumers, and the reduction in cost of barrier coating application technologies. If earlier moisture-resistant paper for burgers or coffee cups was a niche product, now it is a mass demand. The technologies that Michelman will discuss directly affect the cost and quality of such products.
3. Technology race
Russian manufacturers of coatings and varnishes (e.g., INX-Russia, Sakata, as well as local developers) are actively seeking alternatives to departed Western brands. However, Michelman, Miraclon (formerly Kodak Flexcel), and other global players continue to invest in R&D. Russian printing houses focused on high standards need to understand what technological horizons are opening up in order to timely adapt their production lines — whether it be inline varnishing on digital machines or applying coatings on offset sheets.
Technical aspects: what changes for the printing process
Transitioning to sustainable barrier coatings is not just a material replacement. It is a change in the entire technological chain.
Compatibility with printing technologies
Water-based barrier coatings must be compatible with inks (offset, flexographic, digital) and not affect color reproduction and adhesion. Michelman, as a rule, offers solutions that are applied either as a primer before printing or as a topcoat varnish. For digital machines, especially inkjet (HP Indigo, Konica Minolta AccurioJet), this is critical: an incorrectly selected coating can cause ink bleeding or peeling.
Application equipment
Applying such coatings requires either a varnishing unit on the printing press or a separate laminator/coater. In Russian conditions, many printing houses use varnishing units inline with offset presses or separate UV varnishing units. Michelman water-based coatings typically require thermal drying (hot air or IR drying), which may require modernization of the equipment fleet. However, for printing houses that already have digital printing machines with a priming option (e.g., HP Indigo with primer), integration may be simpler.
Testing and certification
To claim that packaging is recyclable, simply applying a coating is not enough. Tests must be conducted in an accredited laboratory (in Russia, for example, the All-Russian Research Institute of Printing or industry laboratories at pulp and paper mills). Michelman, at its sessions, will likely present simplified testing protocols for its clients, which will lower the entry barrier. Russian printing houses should study certification requirements in advance to avoid a situation where 'eco-friendly' packaging fails the recycling test.
Russian context: challenges and opportunities
The Russian printing and packaging market in 2024-2025 demonstrates contradictory trends. On the one hand, a decline in the print advertising and classical outdoor advertising segment (according to AKAR, −12% and −24% respectively). On the other hand, sustainable growth in the packaging segment, especially corrugated cardboard (+9% in box production compared to 2024) and flexible packaging.
It is packaging that becomes a 'lifeline' for many printing houses reorienting from commercial printing to the production of labels, boxes, and bags. And here, sustainability requirements are not a marketing option but a condition for survival. Large clients (food manufacturers, retail) increasingly include clauses on packaging recyclability and the availability of environmental certificates in tender documentation.
The problem is that Russia's paper waste recycling infrastructure is not yet ideal. According to various estimates, about 55% of paper waste is recycled, and not all types of coated packaging are accepted for recycling. Nevertheless, large pulp and paper mills (e.g., Ilim Group, Arkhangelsk PPM) are actively modernizing their paper waste recycling lines, and demand for high-quality secondary raw materials is growing. Packaging that is easily repulpable (breaks down into fibers) will be worth more on the secondary raw materials market — this is a direct economic incentive.
What should a printing house do right now
Michelman's announcement is not a reason for panic, but a guide to action. Here are a few steps worth considering for printing houses focused on the packaging segment:
- Explore the range of coatings. Even if you don't work directly with Michelman, similar solutions are available from Russian suppliers (e.g., 'Poligraficheskie Kraski', INX-Russia). It's important to understand which barrier properties (grease resistance, moisture resistance, oxygen barrier) are in demand by your clients.
- Conduct an equipment audit. Can your line apply water-based coatings with subsequent drying? If not, estimate the cost of upgrading or purchasing a used varnishing machine (e.g., from Komori or Heidelberg, available on the secondary market).
- Start a dialogue with customers. Offer current food packaging clients to test samples with barrier coating. Brands are often willing to pay a bit more for packaging that improves their ESG rating.
- Monitor regulations. In Russia, there is no law similar to the EU PPWR yet, but the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Russian Environmental Operator are actively promoting the concept of extended producer responsibility and recyclability requirements. Be prepared for this to become mandatory in 2-3 years.
Conclusion
Michelman technical sessions at interpack 2026 are not just a conference for narrow specialists. It is a signal that sustainable packaging is ceasing to be a niche trend and is becoming mainstream. Russian printing houses, especially in the regions, need to keep up with this agenda. Those who start implementing barrier coating and recyclable material technologies now will gain an advantage in the competition for large clients in the next 3-5 years.
Sources
- Original article: Michelman to Host Technical Sessions on Sustainable Packaging Innovation at interpack 2026 (Sustainable Packaging News)
- Official website of the interpack exhibition
- Official website of Michelman
- Association of Communication Agencies of Russia (ACAR) — advertising market data
Based on materials from Sustainable Packaging News. Adaptation and comments by the editorial board of the 'Седьмой Легион' printing house (Ekaterinburg, since 2011).