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Run your analysis now →https://www.patsnap.com/resources/blog/rd-blog/paper-based-packaging-environmental-durability-patent-landscape/ · Patsnap · data cut-off 2026-07-31 · downloaded from the live page
Patent Landscape · Packaging TechnologyPaper-Based Packaging Patents: Who Owns Wet Strength, Moisture and Grease Resistance
- Filing activity peaked in 2021 at 37 records and has since declined toward 2026, suggesting the field is consolidating around established claim territory rather than expanding into new ground.
- D21H pulp and paper compositions dominate appearing in 183 of 262 records, well ahead of layered products (B32B, 101) and containers (B65D, 100) — the fibre chemistry itself, not the container form, is where most claims sit.
- Co-assignment is rare with only 10 co-assignee pairs across 262 families, and one pairing accounting for 10 of those — most work here is filed solo rather than through joint development.
262
Published Records
55%
Top-5 Share of All Records
-24%
Filing Growth 2021→2024
US
Leading Jurisdiction
Filing growth compares 2021 (37 records) with 2024 (28) — a three-year span. 2024 is the most recent year we treat as complete: publication lags filing by roughly 18 months, so 2025 onwards are still filling in and any growth rate that ends there would understate the field. Top-5 share is the combined record count of the five largest assignees divided by all 262 records in scope (CR5), not by the ranked leaders only.
Published byPatsnap Research··7 min readSourced from Patsnap Eureka
Overview
What the patent record shows
Paper-based packaging durability sits at the intersection of fibre chemistry and barrier engineering. The search corpus captures filings that combine wet strength, moisture resistance or grease resistance durability claims with paper-based, paperboard or fibre-based packaging substrates, spanning filings from 2015 through the 2026 data cut-off. Two hundred and sixty-two families is a modest but concentrated set: it is not a crowded field in the sense that lithium battery chemistries are crowded, but the claim space that does exist is unevenly held.
The technology composition points to pulp and paper compositions (D21H) as the primary battleground, with layered products (B32B) and containers (B65D) close behind — evidence that most durability claims are won or lost in the coating and fibre-treatment chemistry rather than in structural packaging design. Filing lagged toward the most recent years, which understates 2025 and 2026 activity since publication typically trails filing by around 18 months.
Annual filings, 2017-2026
Source: Patsnap Eureka. Assignee ranking and totals. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
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Data
Filing trend and technology mix
The dataset spans 262 published families across a decade of filing, concentrated in pulp/paper chemistry and layered packaging structures.
Filings rose to a 2021 peak, then eased
Annual filings climbed from 26 in 2017 to a peak of 37 in 2021, then declined toward the 2022 midpoint of 24 and further through the partial 2026 count of 5. Read the tail years cautiously: publication lag of roughly 18 months means 2025 and 2026 filings are still arriving.
D21H leads a fibre-chemistry-heavy field
D21H (pulp and paper compositions) appears in 183 of 262 records, ahead of B32B laminates (101) and B65D containers (100). Smaller counts in C08J, C08L and C09D show polymer and coating chemistry contributing to barrier performance, while A01N biocide claims (13) mark a narrower niche tied to preservative or antimicrobial paper treatments.
Shares are the percentage of the 262 records in scope. A patent can carry several IPC classes, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
Source: Patsnap Eureka. Filing trend and technology composition. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.
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The most-cited prior art
Representative Filing
Multiwall paper-based packaging structures (US20240132252A1)
PROAMPAC HOLDINGS INC.
A paper-based packaging article includes outer and intermediate paper plies and an inner polymer film ply. A first adhesive layer is disposed between the inner and intermediate paper plies for gluing the inner polymer film ply to the intermediate paper ply. A second adhesive layer is disposed between the intermediate and outer paper plies for gluing the intermediate paper ply to the outer paper ply. The first and second adhesive layers overlap and are coaligned, forming a multiwall structure filed by Proampac Holdings Inc. in 2024.Abstract reproduced from the published filing.
Highest-citation records in the corpus
| # | Publication no. | Patent title | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | US5989724A | Recyclable and repulpable ream wrap and related methods of manufacture | 97 |
| 2 | US20030220036A1 | Laminates and coated materials comprising hydroxy-phenoxyether polymers | 80 |
| 3 | US20220112663A1 | Biodegradable and recyclable barrier paper laminate | 62 |
| 4 | US20160230343A1 | Oil, grease, and moisture resistant paperboard | 53 |
| 5 | US6548120B1 | Recyclable and repulpable ream wrap and related methods of manufacture | 51 |
| 6 | EP0718437A1 | Recyclable and repulpable ream wrap and related methods of manufacture | 49 |
| 7 | WO2020261170A1 | Gas barrier film for packaging material | 40 |
| 8 | US5552002A | Method for making paperboard packaging containing a PVOH barrier | 38 |
| 9 | WO2012093036A1 | Non-foil packaging laminate, method for manufacturing of the packaging laminate and packaging container produ… | 37 |
| 10 | US20110248076A1 | Packaging laminate, method for manufacturing of the packaging laminate and packaging container produced there… | 33 |
Citation counts reflect influence within the searched corpus and skew toward older filings; they are not a measure of current commercial relevance.
Each row carries its publication number; clicking a row searches Eureka by that number.
Source: Patsnap Eureka. Citation counts and representative records. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
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Reading the citation and filing signal
Three patterns stand out once family counts, citation weight and receiving offices are lined up against each other.
Citation concentration
97 citations
top-cited record
Older ream-wrap patents still anchor the field
US5989724A, a recyclable and repulpable ream wrap patent, carries the highest citation count in the corpus at 97, with a related continuation (US6548120B1) also in the top five. Both predate the current wave of grease- and moisture-resistance claims, meaning the foundational recyclability concepts are decades old even as newer barrier chemistry accumulates around them.
Citation weight favours earlier filings in any searched corpus.
Filing geography
70 US filings
leading receiving office
Filing is US- and Europe-led with a thin PCT layer
The United States receives the largest share of filings (70), followed by the EPO (55) and WIPO/PCT (41). Secondary volume in India, Canada and Sweden suggests durability claims are being pursued where paper packaging manufacturing and regulation are both active, rather than filed broadly across every jurisdiction.
Receiving-office counts, not granted-patent counts.
Collaboration rate
10 co-assignee pairs
across 262 families
Most filings are solo, not joint
Only 10 co-assignee pairings appear across the full dataset, and one pairing alone accounts for 10 co-filed records. That leaves the remainder of the corpus filed by single assignees, indicating durability chemistry here is largely developed in-house rather than through cross-licensed joint ventures.
Co-assignment counts pairs of named applicants on the same family.
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Collaboration is the exception, not the rule
| Assignee | Co-assignee | Shared families |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center (Israel) | Biopac (BioPak) | 10 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | TOFT NILS | 2 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | LORENZETTI CESARE | 1 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | JOHANSSON HANS | 1 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | BERLIN MIKAEL | 1 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | BERGHOLTZ LARS | 1 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | BENTMAR MATS | 1 |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | ALDEN MATS | 1 |
With just 10 co-assignee pairs in 262 families, teams evaluating partnership or licensing routes should expect to negotiate with a single IP holder in almost every case, not a consortium.
Source: Patsnap Eureka. Co-assignee relationships and derived observations. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
Players
Who holds the claim space, and where it is thin
Recent-year momentum data shows several established assignees recording zero filings in the latest tracked year, consistent with the broader decline from the 2021 peak rather than any single company retreating from the field.
Momentum
0 filings
latest year, multiple assignees
Flat momentum across established filers
Assignees including WestRock, Stora Enso, Procter & Gamble, Proampac Holdings and Tetra Laval show zero filings in the most recent tracked year, several down 100% year-on-year. This tracks the overall filing decline from the 2021 peak rather than isolated exits, though it is also consistent with publication lag understating true recent activity.
Momentum figures reflect published records only; filing-to-publication lag applies.
Concentration
10 pairs
co-assignee pairs
One collaboration stands well above the rest
The strongest co-assignee relationship in the dataset links Israel's Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Center) with Biopac, recorded 10 times — far ahead of any other pairing. That level of repeat co-filing is unusual in this dataset and points to a sustained joint development programme rather than a one-off filing.
Based on paired-applicant records within the same family.
Structure
262 families
total ranked
A long tail behind a modest set of repeat filers
With 262 families in total and momentum data showing several large legacy packaging groups now inactive in the latest year, the ranking is better described as a moderately concentrated field with a long tail of single- or few-filing entrants than a market with one runaway leader.
Ranking counts patent families, not raw publications.
Recent-year filing momentum by assignee
| Assignee | Recent year | YoY |
|---|---|---|
| WestRock MWV, LLC | 0 | — |
| Stora Enso Oyj | 0 | -100% |
| The Procter & Gamble Company | 0 | — |
| Proampac Holdings Inc. | 0 | -100% |
| Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | 0 | — |
| Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center (Israel) | 0 | — |
| Biopac (BioPak) | 0 | — |
| Xampla Limited | 0 | -100% |
Source: Patsnap Eureka. Assignee-level momentum. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
What's Next
Where to take this analysis
The trend and ranking data point to specific next steps depending on whether the goal is freedom-to-operate, licensing or new filing strategy.
Run a freedom-to-operate check on the D21H core
With 183 of 262 records classified under pulp and paper compositions, any new wet-strength or grease-resistance formulation should be checked against this subclass first, not against the container-design classes.
Explore D21H filings in EurekaWatch for renewed filing after the 2021 peak decline
The drop from 37 filings in 2021 toward single digits by 2026 could reflect either market saturation or simply publication lag; tracking filing-date (not publication-date) data will clarify which.
Set up filing-trend alerts in EurekaEvaluate the Volcani Center–Biopac collaboration model
As the only repeat co-assignee relationship of scale in the dataset, this pairing is worth studying as a template for research-institute/commercial partnerships in fibre-based barrier technology.
Review co-assignee patterns in EurekaSource: Patsnap Eureka. Forward-looking reading of the same dataset. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
FAQ
Common questions on this landscape
The dominant classification is D21H, covering pulp and paper compositions, which appears in 183 of the 262 records in this dataset. B32B (layered products and laminates) and B65D (containers and packaging) follow closely at 101 and 100 records respectively, meaning most durability claims are written either as fibre-treatment chemistry or as multi-layer laminate structures rather than as container geometry. Smaller counts in C08J, C08L and C09D show polymer coating chemistry contributing to barrier performance. Anyone drafting new claims in this space should search all three core classes together, since a durability improvement is often claimed from more than one angle in the same family.
The ranking includes established packaging and consumer goods groups such as WestRock, Stora Enso, Procter & Gamble, Proampac Holdings, Tetra Laval and Kimberly-Clark, alongside research-sector filers like the Volcani Center. Recent-year momentum data shows several of these established names recording zero filings in the latest tracked year, which tracks the broader decline in filing volume since the 2021 peak rather than signalling any single company's exit. There is no single runaway leader in this dataset; it reads as a moderately concentrated field with a long tail of smaller filers.
Filing volume rose from 26 records in 2017 to a peak of 37 in 2021, then declined toward 24 by the 2022 midpoint and down to single digits by 2026. Taken at face value this looks like a shrinking field, but the most recent one to two years are always undercounted because publication typically lags filing by around 18 months. A more accurate read is that the field has plateaued or eased off its 2021 peak, with the true 2025-2026 filing volume not yet fully visible in published records.
US20240132252A1, filed by Proampac Holdings and published in 2024, covers a multiwall paper-based packaging structure with outer and intermediate paper plies and an inner polymer film ply, joined by two coaligned adhesive layers. The claim structure centres on the specific coalignment of the two adhesive layers across the three-ply stack, which is a fairly narrow structural feature rather than a broad materials claim. Anyone designing a similar multiwall structure with a polymer inner ply should review this filing's adhesive-layer geometry closely, since a different alignment or ply order may sit outside its claim scope.
The technology composition shows heavy concentration in D21H, B32B and B65D, with much thinner representation in adjacent areas like A01N biocide treatments (13 records) and B29C plastics shaping (13 records). This suggests under-claimed territory around biocide-treated grease barriers, coating-free wet-strength fibre treatments, and compostable inner-ply films used in multiwall structures. Co-assignment data also shows collaboration is rare, with only 10 co-assignee pairs across 262 families, so joint development structures in this space are themselves relatively unexplored compared to solo filing.
Answers are grounded in the same dataset. Derived from a Patsnap search on Paper-Based Packaging Environmental Durability covering 2015–2026, data cut-off 2026-07-31. Counts reflect published records only and shift as new filings publish.Run this in Eureka MCP
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Disclaimer. This page is generated from Patsnap Eureka data drawn from a limited snapshot of global patent and scientific-literature records, and is provided for general information and reference only.
Patent data carries inherent limitations: recent filings (typically the most recent 18–24 months) are under-counted due to standard publication lag; counts may be reported at either a patent-family or a patent-record basis and are not always directly comparable; classification, applicant-name, and citation data may contain errors, duplicates, or omissions; and the underlying search query defines and constrains the scope shown. As a result, the analysis may be incomplete or inaccurate and may not reflect the full technology landscape.
Nothing on this page constitutes an exhaustive prior-art, novelty, freedom-to-operate, or validity search, nor does it constitute legal, financial, investment, or professional advice, and it should not be relied upon as such. Any patent, commercial, or strategic decision should be verified independently and reviewed with qualified patent, legal, and domain professionals. Patsnap makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any particular purpose of the information presented.
Machine translation. Assignee and organisation names originally recorded in Chinese, Japanese or Korean have been rendered into English by an AI translation step so that the tables stay readable. These renderings are best-effort and may not match a company's registered English name; the original name is what the underlying patent record carries, and it is what any Eureka query launched from this page uses.