As the food industry faces mounting pressure to reduce plastic and meet evolving sustainability standards, packaging innovation is no longer optional - it's essential.
Performa Nova by Stora Enso steps into this space with a fiber-based solution designed to meet these demands head-on.
Food brands today face a complex balancing act: 'regulatory pressure to reduce plastic, rising sustainability expectations from consumers, and the need to preserve product quality across long, often international, cold chains,' says Rasel Khan, Sales Manager for Packaging Materials at Stora Enso. In frozen and chilled applications, packaging must withstand moisture, compression, and temperature fluctuations - without compromising on aesthetics or recyclability.
This is where fresh fiber-based packaging board like Performa NovaTM delivers value. Designed to reduce plastic, it offers an alternative based on renewable materials that is fit for recycling. Sabine Hornischer, Head of Global Accounts at Stora Enso, adds that brands aren't just seeking performance: 'They need packaging that performs well but also offers verifiable sustainability credentials.' With its premium appearance, traceable origins and environmental performance, Performa Nova helps brands confidently demonstrate positive impact.
Innovation at the Oulu Mill
'The market is asking for lightweight, strong, and visually appealing solutions that lower carbon emissions,' says Khan. Performa Nova delivers on all fronts, helping brands reduce CO2 emissions, maintain structural integrity, and support traceable sustainability claims-while also enhancing shelf appeal. It's a clear step toward Stora Enso's broader goal of becoming carbon neutral, and eventually carbon net-positive, through continuous improvements in energy efficiency, water use, and chemical inputs.
Performa Nova's key attributes for frozen and chilled food packaging
Frozen and chilled food packaging demands materials that can withstand moisture, compression, and extreme temperature shifts, without compromising on food safety or sustainability.
Powered by FiberLight TecTM, Stora Enso's proprietary fiber treatment, Performa Nova reduces material weight while maintaining structural strength. Khan explains that this fiber-level innovation re-engineers the board from within to improve bonding and durability. 'In high-humidity freezer environments, you need packaging that won't buckle, swell, or collapse. Performa Nova holds its shape under pressure, even when stacked on pallets or exposed to condensation,' he says. Produced at the Stora Enso's new board line in Oulu, Finland, Performa Nova's strength comes from the innovative structure, where Nordic fiber is a key ingredient.
Performa Nova also protects packaging and product integrity across long, international cold chains. The board resists delamination and edge-wicking through thaw/freeze cycles, while its superior compression strength safeguards goods during transit. Beyond durability, it offers a smooth surface for high-impact branding and a lightweight build that improves logistics and reduces transport-related carbon emissions.
'It's not just 'good enough'- it's robust,' Hornischer emphasises. 'It performs in cold, humid, and variable conditions. It lets brands deliver on their environmental commitments without giving up shelf presence or product protection.'
Gaining traction with leading brands
The early market experience shows that leading food brands are approaching the launch of Performa Nova with both enthusiasm and strategic intent. Extensive market trials across Europe-with major food manufacturers and converters-have shown strong interest, particularly in frozen and chilled categories where replacing plastic and reducing weight are top priorities
The momentum is also driven by wider industry shifts. Legislative pressure from the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and growing expectations around sustainability disclosures are making circular, low-impact materials more urgent than ever. 'They're evaluating how it fits into their long-term strategy,' Khan notes. 'It's not just about packaging-it's about compliance, cost efficiency, and brand reputation.'
Versatility beyond frozen and chilled packaging
Performa Nova's advantages reach well beyond frozen and chilled applications. Its lightweight strength, great print surface, and natural moisture resistance also make it a strong contender for chocolate, confectionery and dry foods.
Looking ahead, both Khan and Hornischer envision a future led by fiber-based formats that challenge traditional plastic. 'The future is recyclable, and fit for circularity,' Khan notes. This leadership is already evident at the Oulu Mill, where renewable energy and fiber-efficient practices advance circular packaging solutions.
For brands still on the fence, the message is clear: now is the time to futureproof. As Hornischer points out, 'Brands don't buy Performa Nova - they buy what it does for them and their consumers.' From stronger shelf presence to a clearer sustainability story, the value is clear. 'Where there's a fit, we offer the full package: certified environmental advantages, fiber traceability, and a visually refined finish.'
