Gloss & Green® – A sustainable alternative to traditional metallization in premium packaging

Gloss & Green® is a technology that enables a metallic premium effect on paperboard without leaving a permanent plastic layer in the final product. In practice, this means that the packaging retains its luxurious appearance while remaining monomaterial and fully suitable for recycling within the standard paper recycling stream.

Gloss & Green® as a response to the limitations of traditional metallization

Traditional paperboard metallization is based on lamination with plastic film. While this solution effectively delivers gloss, color depth, and a premium look, it simultaneously creates a composite material that is difficult to recycle at the end of the product’s life cycle. In the context of current environmental regulations and the purchasing policies of many brands and retail chains, such packaging increasingly fails to meet both formal and image-related requirements.

The Gloss & Green® technology (Trans-Met) breaks this model. The production process allows the plastics used in metallization to be separated and directed to further recovery, while the paperboard remains a homogeneous material. As a result, the finished packaging can be directly sent to paper recycling, without the risk of incorrect sorting or degradation of the recycled fiber quality.

Technological Differences

The key difference between conventional metallization and Gloss & Green® lies in the material structure. With traditional metallization, the paperboard is permanently bonded to a plastic film, whereas Gloss & Green® produces a monomaterial paperboard that is fully recyclable. This technological innovation offers decisive advantages for brands: improved recyclability, stronger alignment with ESG criteria, and credible environmental communication.

Relevance of Gloss & Green® technology for the spirits industry

The key difference between conventional metallization and Gloss & Green® lies in the material structure. With traditional metallization, the paperboard is permanently bonded to a plastic film, whereas Gloss & Green® produces a monomaterial paperboard that is fully recyclable. This technological innovation offers decisive advantages for brands: improved recyclability, stronger alignment with ESG criteria, and credible environmental communication.

These solutions are applied in packaging for the alcohol and beverage sector: Beverages | PAWI – Packaging for bottles

Relevance of Gloss & Green® technology for the cosmetics industry

The cosmetics industry has long been under particular pressure from consumers regarding sustainability, transparency, and responsibility. Gloss & Green® fits perfectly into concepts such as eco-luxury and clean beauty, enabling the creation of packaging that combines premium aesthetics with a real reduction in plastic. Packaging thus becomes an element of brand trust, not merely a product container.

These solutions are widely used in packaging for the cosmetics sector: Cosmetics | PAWI – Packaging for cosmetic products

Relevance of Gloss & Green® technology for the food industry

In the food sector, simplicity, safety, and clear waste separation are of key importance. The monomaterial paperboard produced using Gloss & Green® technology eliminates consumer uncertainty and facilitates proper disposal after use. At the same time, subtle metallic accents allow products to stand out on the shelf without environmental compromise.

Credible Brand Communication

Brands that choose packaging from PAWI using Gloss & Green® gain concrete arguments for their communication. They can clearly communicate plastic reduction, full recyclability of the paperboard, and support for the circular economy. Importantly, this communication is based on a real production process rather than marketing claims.

Gloss & Green® as a new standard for premium packaging

The Gloss & Green® technology (Trans-Met) demonstrates that the future of premium packaging does not lie in a compromise between aesthetics and sustainability. It is a solution that combines design, quality, and environmental responsibility into one coherent standard, responding to global market trends and expectations presented, among others, at events such as Paris Packaging Week.