The three routes
Your options
- PFAS ("fluorochemical") coating — strong grease barrier, now being banned.
- PE lamination — a plastic layer; effective but hard to recycle/compost.
- Nanocellulose coating — bio-based, PFAS-free and plastic-free.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | PFAS coating | PE lamination | Nanocellulose (Biopack) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grease / oil barrier | Strong | Strong | High |
| Moisture barrier | Good | Strong | Water & UVB barrier |
| Recyclable in paper stream | Problematic | Difficult (plastic layer) | Repulpable-friendly design |
| Compostable / degradable | No | No | Soil-degradable |
| PFAS-free | No | Yes | Yes |
| Plastic-free | Yes | No | Yes |
| Regulatory outlook | Being banned (US states, EU) | Under pressure (plastics rules) | Built for PFAS bans & EU PPWR |
General comparison; exact performance depends on paper substrate, coat weight and application. Barrier and food-contact specifications available on request.
Why PFAS and PE are both running out of road
PFAS deliver a great grease barrier but are being restricted and banned for food packaging across US states and tightened in the EU — a compliance risk you'll have to solve anyway. PE lamination avoids PFAS, but the plastic layer makes the paper hard to recycle or compost, which collides with plastics regulations such as the EU's PPWR. See what replaces PFAS in food packaging and PE-free paper coating.
Where nanocellulose fits
A nanocellulose barrier coating is bio-based, PFAS-free and plastic-free — designed to deliver grease and moisture barrier while keeping the paper recyclable-friendly and soil-degradable. Biopack's spearhead is a coating liquid that mills and converters apply to ordinary paper, so you don't need a new substrate — just a better coating. See nanocellulose barrier coatings explained.
How to choose
| If you need… | Best route |
|---|---|
| To eliminate PFAS compliance risk | PE-free and PFAS-free — nanocellulose |
| Recyclable AND compostable | Nanocellulose (avoid the PE layer) |
| To upgrade without changing paper | A coating liquid on your existing paper |
Move your paper off PFAS and PE
Request samples and the barrier/food-contact data for a PFAS-free, plastic-free nanocellulose coating.
Request samples →Request a sample & technical data
Tell us your application — a real person replies within 1–2 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Is nanocellulose coating better than PFAS or PE?
For future-proofing, yes: nanocellulose is bio-based, PFAS-free and plastic-free, so it avoids both the PFAS bans and the recyclability problems of a PE plastic layer, while providing grease and moisture barrier. PFAS and PE can match the barrier on the shelf but fail on regulation and end-of-life.
Can nanocellulose coating replace PE lamination?
It's designed to. A nanocellulose coating provides barrier without a plastic layer, keeping the paper more recyclable and compostable. Biopack supplies it as a coating liquid mills can apply to ordinary paper.
Is nanocellulose coating food-safe?
Biopack's nanocellulose coating is FDA food-contact and bio-based. Detailed food-contact documentation and barrier data are available on request / under NDA for your application.
※ General technical information on paper barrier coatings. Performance and food-contact status depend on substrate, coat weight and application; specifications and test data are available on request. Comparative statements are general.