Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.; www.dow.com), a global materials science company, and RDM Group (Milan, Italy; www.rdmgroup.com), a leading producer of recycled cartonboard, today announced the launch of Multiboard CirculaRR, a breakthrough solution that advances circularity in food barrier packaging. The innovation is suitable for food-contact applications, including frozen foods such as fish and cakes as well as fruit trays or dry pet food.
Multiboard CirculaRR brings together RDM Group’s expertise in fiber‑based packaging with Dow’s leadership in circular polymers and advanced recycling technologies. The solution is made entirely with recycled materials – recycled paper coated with advanced recycled polyethylene (PE) – while maintaining the functionality performance required for demanding packaging applications.
The new solution builds on RDM Group’s existing Multiboard Barrier product, manufactured at the company’s facility in Fiskeby, Sweden. Multiboard Barrier is a recycled cartonboard coated with around 5% polyethylene (PE) by weight. The low polymer content enables the packaging to be collected and processed within existing mixed paper recycling streams, supporting efficient end‑of‑life management.
“Multiboard CirculaRR is a breakthrough packaging innovation that advances circularity in food packaging. Now its plastic part is certified as being made from recycled materials and is designed for recyclability,” commented Krzysztof Krajewski, chief sustainability and innovation officer at RDM Group.
“In the packaging sector, paper and plastic are often seen as competing materials. Through our collaboration with Dow, we want to help the recycling industry move beyond the siloes of fibre and plastic and focus on accelerating our common goal of advancing circularity and preventing packaging waste.”
Certified recycled content and food-contact compliance
Multiboard’s CirculaRR plastic part is certified under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS) system, confirming the use of recycled plastic from advanced recycling through a mass‑balance chain of custody. The packaging solution has also achieved certification from ISEGA, an independent testing institute specializing in materials intended for food contact, confirming its suitability for food packaging applications.
Dow’s materials science and circular polymer expertise play a key role in enabling this food-contact-compliant solution by supporting the use of certified recycled plastic from advanced recycling. Working alongside mechanical recycling, advanced recycling provides a complementary pathway for hard‑to‑recycle plastic waste, converting it back into molecular building blocks that can be used to produce high‑performance plastics with virgin‑like quality.
Marian Gmenta, senior marketing manager for circular and renewable solutions at Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics EMEA, added, “We’re delighted to partner with RDM Group on this breakthrough circular innovation. By combining RDM Group’s fibre‑based packaging expertise with Dow’s circular polymer know‑how, we have developed a food‑contact‑compliant packaging solution, exclusively from recycled materials, with broad application potential that supports brands and converters as they prepare for upcoming EU packaging requirements such as PPWR.”
Not just recycled, but also designed for recyclability
Multiboard CirculaRR has been independently assessed using the latest testing protocol developed by 4evergreen, a cross‑industry alliance focused on improving the circularity of fibre‑based packaging. These tests confirm that the solution is not only made from recycled materials but also designed to be recyclable within established paper recycling systems.
This design‑for‑recyclability aspect is increasingly critical as brand owners and value‑chain partners prepare for evolving regulatory requirements. The EU PPWR requires that all packaging placed on the EU market be recyclable by 2030 and introduces mandatory recycled plastic content targets. Multiboard CirculaRR helps brands and converters prepare for the PPWR’s recyclability ambitions and recycled content requirements, while maintaining food safety and performance.
Industry debut at interpack 2026
Multiboard CirculaRR will be officially launched at interpack 2026, the world’s leading packaging fair, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 7-13 May. Prototypes of the innovation will be showcased at Dow’s booth (Hall 9, C24), providing visitors with a first look at how fibre‑based and plastic materials can be combined to deliver circular, high‑performance food packaging solutions.
Dow is one of the world’s leading materials science companies.
RDM Group is one of Europe’s leading packaging board producers.