Ahlstrom has expanded its Grease-Gard portfolio with two new grease-resistant papers for the North American quick-service restaurant and foodservice packaging market.

The new Grease-Gard Plus and Grease-Gard Pro grades are designed for different performance requirements, ranging from moisture-exposed food wraps and bags to packaging for hot foods where grease resistance and heat retention are important.

The launch gives converters and food brands additional paper-based options as they evaluate alternatives to wax-treated papers, aluminum foil bags and wraps.

Grease-Gard Plus Targets Moisture and Grease

Grease-Gard Plus combines the grease resistance of Ahlstrom’s existing Grease-Gard portfolio with improved water holdout.

The company is positioning the material for foodservice applications where packaging may encounter moisture or condensation in addition to oil and grease.

Potential applications include food wraps, bags and other foodservice packaging formats.

Ahlstrom describes Grease-Gard Plus as engineered for recyclability and as an alternative to conventional wax-treated papers.

The company also says the grade provides the converting performance and printability required for foodservice packaging production.

For converters, combining grease resistance with water holdout is relevant because food packaging frequently needs to manage several conditions simultaneously rather than providing a barrier against grease alone.

Grease-Gard Pro Targets Hot-Food Packaging

Grease-Gard Pro addresses more demanding hot-food applications.

Ahlstrom developed the grade for packaging where both grease resistance and heat retention are important, positioning it as a paper-based alternative to traditional foil bags and wraps.

Target applications include:

• Burgers and hot sandwiches
• Burritos
• Grab-and-go foods
• High-performance food bags and wraps

The objective is to provide the functional performance required to protect food quality while giving brands an opportunity to reduce the use of aluminum in certain packaging formats.

The company has not presented Grease-Gard Pro as a universal replacement for foil. Suitability will depend on the specific food, barrier requirements, converting process and distribution conditions.

Ahlstrom Simplifies Grease-Gard Portfolio

Alongside the technical differences between the two grades, Ahlstrom is emphasizing easier product selection.

Travis Dahlke, VP of Global Food Packaging at Ahlstrom, said food packaging customers are operating in an increasingly complicated market where performance and sustainability requirements must be considered together.

“Beyond introducing two clearly differentiated products, we are providing a simpler portfolio that helps converters and brand owners quickly identify the right solution for their performance requirements while supporting their sustainability ambitions,” Dahlke said.

This application-based positioning reflects the variety of performance requirements within foodservice packaging.

A paper wrapping a relatively dry product does not necessarily require the same barrier characteristics as packaging exposed to hot grease, moisture and condensation.

Matching the barrier level to the application can therefore be as important as the choice between paper, foil or other packaging materials.

Foodservice Paper Development Focuses on Barrier Performance

Paper-based food packaging continues to attract development activity as restaurants and food brands look for ways to reduce their dependence on certain plastic, wax-coated and aluminum formats.

The challenge is maintaining the functional properties traditionally provided by those materials.

Foodservice packaging may need to withstand oil, grease, moisture and elevated temperatures while maintaining mechanical integrity throughout filling, transport and consumption.

It must also be printable and compatible with converting processes used to manufacture bags, wraps and other formats.

Barrier treatments are therefore becoming increasingly important to the development of fiber-based food packaging.

At the same time, recyclability depends on the complete packaging construction rather than paper content alone. Barrier chemistry, coatings, adhesives, inks and local recycling infrastructure can all influence the actual end-of-life outcome.

Specialty Paper Competition Expands in Food Packaging

Ahlstrom’s launch comes amid continued development of grease-resistant fiber packaging by specialty paper and material suppliers.

Recent innovations across the market have focused on replacing or reducing materials traditionally used to provide grease, moisture and heat-sealing performance while retaining the functionality needed for food applications.

For paper manufacturers, this creates opportunities beyond conventional printing and communication grades.

Foodservice packaging requires specialized performance characteristics that can increase the functional value of paper within the package.

With Grease-Gard Plus, Ahlstrom is targeting applications requiring combined grease resistance and improved water holdout.

Grease-Gard Pro moves further toward higher-performance hot-food packaging, where the company sees opportunities for paper to replace certain foil-based formats.

The two additions illustrate how the development of paper packaging is increasingly moving beyond the simple question of whether fiber can replace another material.

The more important question is whether barrier-treated paper can deliver the required grease, moisture and thermal performance for a specific food application while maintaining viable converting and end-of-life characteristics.

Ahlstrom is a fiber-based specialty materials company serving markets including food and consumer packaging, filtration, healthcare and other industrial applications.

Last Updated on 31/08/2026 by Jota Machinery