Food-safe paperboard packaging starts at the mill

WHO's World Food Safety Day on 7 June highlights the importance of safe food systems worldwide. Safe food does not happen by chance. It is the result of carefully designed processes, strict quality controls and close collaboration across the entire value chain.

At Metsä Board, food safety starts at the mill.

“Our customers trust the safety of all Metsä Board products, and ensuring food safety is always a fundamental part of our production. It is embedded in our daily operations, underpinning consistently high standards and never compromised,” says Laura Remes, SVP, Production & Supply Chain at Metsä Board.

What is food-safe paperboard packaging?

Food-safe paperboard packaging is packaging material designed and manufactured to safely come into contact with food. It is produced using approved raw materials, controlled and hygienic processes, and certified food safety management systems to prevent contamination and ensure compliance with food contact regulations.

While food safety is often associated with food production itself, packaging plays a critical role in protecting food, maintaining quality and preventing contamination throughout the supply chain.

Why food-safe paperboard packaging matters for global food safety?

High-quality paperboard packaging does more than contain food. It protects food throughout its lifecycle, from production and transport to retail and consumption.

Food-safe paperboard packaging helps to:

• prevent contamination from external sources
• maintain freshness, quality and shelf life of food
• ensure safe interaction between food and packaging materials
• support compliance with applicable food safety and food contact regulations

From fresh produce and dry goods to frozen and takeaway applications, safe packaging depends on purity, consistency and performance.

Metsä Board’s paperboards for food packaging are made from fully traceable fresh wood fibre, providing a naturally pure and reliable raw material for safety-critical end uses. Traceability is maintained through documented chain-of-custody controls covering raw material sourcing, production and delivery.

How Metsä Board ensures food safety at the mill?

At Metsä Board, food safety is embedded in every stage of production — from raw material sourcing to finished paperboard.

Our mills operate according to certified food safety and quality management systems, including FSSC 22000 and ISO 22000. These systems are aligned with internationally recognised food industry standards and support consistent, well-documented production practices.

Food safety at Metsä Board mills is built on:

1. Carefully selected raw materials: Only approved fresh fibres and food contact compliant chemicals are used. Raw materials are assessed and controlled to meet defined safety requirements.

2. Controlled and hygienic production processes: Production environments and processes are designed to manage cleanliness, minimise cross-contamination risks and ensure stable, repeatable quality.

3. Good manufacturing practices (GMP): GMP provides a structured foundation for consistent product safety across all mills, supporting daily operational discipline and continuous improvement.

4. Traceability throughout the value chain: From forests to finished paperboard, traceability enables transparency and accountability at every stage of production.

5. Comprehensive quality assurance systems: Continuous monitoring, documentation and audits support compliance with food safety requirements and customer expectations.

Because Metsä Board manages the entire value chain from forest to finished paperboard, we know exactly what goes into our products. This helps ensure that only approved, food-contact-compliant substances are used in paperboards intended for food packaging.