Dow, a global materials science leader, and RDM Group, a leading producer of recycled cartonboard, have officially launched Multiboard CirculaRR – a breakthrough solution advancing circularity in food barrier packaging. The innovation is suitable for food-contact applications, including frozen foods such as fish and cakes, fruit trays, and dry pet food.
Multiboard CirculaRR combines RDM Group’s expertise in fibre‑based packaging with Dow’s leadership in circular polymers and advanced recycling technologies. The solution is made entirely from recycled materials – recycled paper coated with advanced recycled polyethylene (PE) – while maintaining the functional performance required for demanding packaging applications.
Built on proven materials, designed with end-of-life in mind
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 approximately 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.
Krzysztof Krajewski, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer at RDM Group, commented: “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. 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
The plastic part of Multiboard CirculaRR 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 2026. Prototypes of the innovation will be showcased at Dow’s booth (Hall 9, Stand 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.
About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world’s leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Its global breadth, asset integration and scale, customer‑focused innovation and leading business positions enable it to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 29 countries and employs approximately 34,600 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $40 billion in 2025.
About RDM Group
RDM Group is one of Europe’s leading packaging board producers. The Group is committed to manufacturing cartonboard for packaging solutions using recycled fibres. All products are made from renewable materials and are designed to be fully recyclable, supporting a circular economy. Key business areas include White‑Lined Chipboard (WLC) and Solid Board: WLC is predominantly used for a broad range of end‑uses such as food packaging, cleaning, personal care and home appliance; Solid Board in high grammages and thicknesses is well‑suited for luxury packaging, puzzles, games, displays and the publishing market. For RDM Group, sustainability is a core value upon which its business model is built.
About 4evergreen
4evergreen is a cross‑industry alliance bringing together over 110 industry leaders from the fibre‑based packaging value chain – from pulp, paper and board producers and recyclers to packaging producers and converters, including brand owners, retailers and waste management companies. Its goal is to increase the overall recycling rate of fibre‑based packaging to 90% by 2030. The alliance published the latest version of its Recyclability Assessment Protocol in January 2025, providing a standardized protocol to assess recyclability, support regulatory compliance, and offer data‑driven recommendations for improving packaging design and recycling processes.
About ISCC PLUS
ISCC PLUS is a voluntary third‑party certification system for verifying the use of renewable and circular raw materials, ensuring the reliability and traceability of sustainable materials. The certification uses a mass‑balance approach and verifies the origin and traceability of biomass and circular products, confirming their alignment with environmental, social and governance criteria throughout the supply chain, and providing assurance to consumers and stakeholders about production practices and resource use. The plastic part of Multiboard CirculaRR is ISCC PLUS certified, confirming the use of recycled plastic from advanced recycling.
About the EU PPWR
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) entered into force in February 2025 and will apply from 12 August 2026. It aims to reduce packaging waste, improve packaging recyclability, and harmonise standards across the EU internal market. Key requirements include: by 2030, all packaging placed on the EU market must be recyclable (meeting at least performance grade C); by 2038, only grades A or B packaging will be accepted. The regulation also sets mandatory minimum recycled content targets for plastic packaging: 30–35% by 2030, with further increases by 2040.
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