Coated paper is a composite material in which plastic particles are coated onto the surface of paper using a casting machine. Its main characteristics include oil resistance, water resistance (relatively), and heat sealability. The production process uses kraft paper as the base paper, and a coating machine is used to evenly coat hot-melt PE plastic particles to form a thin film. Currently, the vast majority of coated paper on the market is polyethylene (PE).
With increasing environmental protection requirements, the industry is evolving towards bio-based biodegradable materials, which utilize bio-based particles such as PLA and PBAT. In 2024, the industry added a new production line project with an annual capacity of 30,000 tons of environmentally friendly biodegradable coated paper. Some technologies modify PLA raw materials to improve the heat resistance and brittleness of polylactic acid (PLA). PHA coated paper products have obtained BPI home composting certification, and these products are mainly used in the disposable tableware sector.
Against the backdrop of the "dual-carbon" strategy and the global wave of plastic bans, the EU's plastic ban has driven the increased penetration rate of biodegradable coated paper. In 2025, the national standard for "Laminated Paper and Paperboard for Food Packaging" was approved and released. This standard applies to products processed after lamination with PE, PP, PET, PBS, PLA, PHA, or PBAT films, contributing to the industry's green and sustainable development. In 2026, nine departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, jointly issued the "Notice on Implementing the Green Consumption Promotion Action." "Paper-for-Plastic 2.0" returns to the fundamental principles of a circular economy.
The industry is transforming through technological upgrades and market expansion, with some companies building complete industrial chain production capabilities covering raw material modification, lamination, molding, and printing.
