Jujo Thermal, based in Kauttua, Eura, has developed an innovative material that meets the packaging challenges of food service and food safety, offering an alternative to aluminum or plastic protective films in flexible food packaging. The fiber-based, recyclable and safe Shieldplus® material helps food manufacturers reduce the use of plastic.
Shieldplus® won the 2022 Productive Idea competition organized by the Finnish Young Chambers of Commerce as a food supply and food safety innovation that solves multiple problems at the same time. According to the jury, this is the only right direction for the future from the perspective of the global plastic waste problem and sustainable food safety.
Japaneseness in Satakunta, Eura
The Shieldplus concept was originally developed at the central product development unit of Jujo Thermal's parent company, Nippon Paper Industry, in Tokyo.
“The concept required years of further development to be suitable for the European market and also other export markets,” said Jujo Thermal Oy’s Sales and Marketing Director. Jens Remmer clarify.
“Nippon Paper also makes this product for the Japanese domestic market, our task is to be a kind of export hub for the group to the European market.”
Courage, perseverance and risk tolerance
Jens Remmer cites collaboration as the driving force behind the further development of the product's functionality and the success of practical measures caused by the diversity of the market. The product has compact and durable properties and therefore provides a good basis for the necessary further processing, in accordance with the corresponding packaging needs.
To bring innovation to packaging production, the cooperation of many actors is needed in a comprehensive process. It requires a variety of testing and often results in joint optimization in the supply chain.
"Paper material is one part of this process. However, it is not heat-sealable as such, for example, so as a material manufacturer we need to discuss it carefully with, for example, both the heat-sealing material manufacturer and the bagging machine manufacturer. Effective cooperation between many parties is needed. And most importantly, the customer must be able to define what they want in terms of manufacturing, product technology and marketing. When we switch from using plastic and aluminum film to a paper-based product, it is a new thing for most operators."
Preserved flavors and aromas
When an ordinary person throws a spice bag into their shopping cart at the grocery store, they don't think about how huge a segment food packaging is as a whole. How many production stages and various innovations are behind the packaging that preserves the flavors, aromas and safety of food. That doesn't bother Jens Remmer. The main thing is to produce first-class packaging material that is not only functional but also environmentally friendly.
Jujo Thermal
– Jujo Thermal, part of the Paper Group, is a manufacturer of specialty papers and flexible packaging materials and the only manufacturer of heat-sensitive paper in the Nordic countries.
– The majority of products are exported.
– Located in the Kauttua ironworks area in Eura.
– Founded in 1992.
– Employs approximately 200 people.
– Annual turnover is approximately 100 million euros.
