UPM Specialty Papers

What UPM Specialty Papers does

UPM Specialty Papers (also operating as UPM Specialty Materials) is a specialty paper manufacturing division of UPM-Kymmene Corporation, a publicly listed Finnish conglomerate headquartered in Helsinki. The division produces label papers, fine papers, office papers, and specialty packaging papers, with its core technology centered on fibre-based paper manufacturing using sustainably sourced forest fibres combined with advanced barrier coating technologies. Its flagship proprietary base paper, UPM Solide Lucent, enables recyclable fibre-based barrier materials with customizable protection against oxygen, moisture, and grease for flexible food packaging applications including chocolate and snack bar wrappers.

The company serves a B2B customer base comprising packaging manufacturers, converters, label and release liner producers, and graphic/office paper buyers across global markets. It generates revenue through direct sales of paper products priced by grade, volume, and specification, distributed via direct sales teams, customer service channels, and the UPM Customer Online portal. Recent strategic activity has focused on co-developed sustainable packaging solutions with partners Felix Schoeller, Paramelt, and Royal Vaassen, all targeting compliance with EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation recyclability requirements. The division positions itself as an industry-recognized sustainability leader with science-based emission reduction targets, and participates in major industry events such as Interpack 2026 to drive market engagement.

Name

UPM Specialty Papers

Legal name

UPM Specialty Materials (operating division of UPM-Kymmene Corporation)

Website

https://upmspecialtypapers.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

UPM Specialty Papers is a division of UPM-Kymmene Corporation that manufactures specialty label, packaging, and office papers using fibre-based barrier coating technology, serving packaging manufacturers, converters, and label producers globally with sustainable, EU-regulation-compliant paper products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Papers

NAICS

Paper Mills (32212), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222), Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing (322220)

SIC

Paper Mills (2621), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Paper Manufacturing (Coated, Release, Thermal, Filter, Security) (IMAMAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Paper Labels & Paper-Based Release Liners (IMALACAK), Paper Converting Services (slitting, sheeting, coating, laminating, rewinding) (IMAMAHAJ)

Keywords

• Specialty paper manufacturing
• Packaging paper materials
• Label face papers
• Release base papers
• Fibre-based barrier materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Specialty Paper Products: Manufacture and sale of specialty papers for packaging, labeling, release liner, graphic and office applications. Products are sold directly to packaging manufacturers, converters, and label producers as raw materials or converting bases. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on paper grade, volume, and specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UPM Specialty Papers manufactures and sells fibre-based specialty papers used in packaging, label face stock, release liners, and graphic/office printing applications. The company produces sustainable paper grades with customisable barrier coatings developed in collaboration with coating partners, supplying converters and brand owners seeking recyclable alternatives to plastic-based substrates.

Product overview

UPM Specialty Papers (also referred to as UPM Specialty Materials) is a specialty paper manufacturer producing a diverse portfolio of paper products for various end-uses. The company offers Packaging Papers (for chilled foods, dry foods, fresh foods, paper bags, and non-food applications), Label Face Papers, Release Base Papers, and Graphic and Office Papers. Key product offerings include UPM Solide Lucent, a specialty paper base used in barrier solutions. The company also collaborates with partners like Felix Schoeller, Paramelt, and Royal Vaassen to develop innovative fibre-based and bio-based packaging solutions with barrier properties for food packaging applications. All papers are produced with fibres sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UPM Solide Lucent

Quantifiable outcome

• Fibre-based barrier materials meeting EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation recyclability requirements

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Felix SchoellercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 April 2026UPM Specialty Materials and Felix Schoeller jointly introduced a recyclable fibre-based barrier material for flexible food packaging applications such as wrappers for chocolate and snack bars. The product uses UPM Solide Lucent as its base and offers customisable barrier protection against oxygen, moisture, and grease while meeting EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation recyclability requirements. The collaboration aims to help packaging manufacturers prepare for stricter EU environmental regulations.
• ParameltcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPM and Paramelt developed a bio-based food packaging concept with strong grease protection properties. The solution was displayed at Interpack 2026, targeting sustainable food packaging applications.
• Royal VaassencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPM and Royal Vaassen developed an ultra-high barrier solution providing maximum protection for packaging applications. The solution was showcased at Interpack 2026.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Westrock: Smurfit Westrock (post Smurfit Kappa–WestRock merger) is the global leader in paper-based packaging, producing containerboard, corrugated, and specialty kraft papers. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping specialty kraft and packaging paper grades serving similar converter customers.
• Nippon Paper Industries: Nippon Paper is a large Japanese paper conglomerate producing printing, packaging, and specialty papers. It is a broad incumbent in the specialty paper space, overlapping with UPM on release liners and packaging paper grades, with significant Asian market presence.

Direct peers

• Billerud: Billerud is a Swedish specialty paper and packaging materials producer focused on kraft and sack paper plus cartonboard. It competes directly with UPM in renewable fibre-based packaging substrates for converters and brand owners.
• Sappi: Sappi is a global producer of coated and specialty papers, packaging boards, and dissolving pulp. It directly competes with UPM in label papers, packaging papers, and graphic/office grades, with comparable sustainability positioning and European converter customer base.
• Stora Enso: Stora Enso is a Finnish-Swedish pulp and paper group producing packaging boards, label materials, and specialty papers. It directly competes with UPM Specialty Papers across packaging, label, and release liner paper grades, serving the same converter and brand-owner customer base in Europe.
• Glatfelter: Glatfelter is a specialty paper and engineered materials producer with focus on filtration, release liners, and composite substrates. It competes with UPM in release base papers and other specialty technical paper grades.
• Mondi: Mondi is a global packaging and paper group producing kraft paper, specialty paper, and corrugated packaging. It is a direct competitor in flexible packaging papers and label/release liner substrates, with overlapping converter customers and sustainability-driven product positioning.
• Ahlstrom: Ahlstrom is a global specialist in fibre-based materials including release liners, label papers, and filtration media. It is a direct competitor in release base papers and specialty label face substrates, overlapping with UPM's release liner product line.

Emerging players

• Felix Schoeller: Felix Schoeller is a German specialty paper and coating company and a strategic partner of UPM on the Solide Lucent-based barrier solution. It is an emerging player in functional/specialty coatings that increasingly competes in technical and barrier paper substrates.

Regional players

• Klabin: Klabin is a Brazilian integrated pulp and paper producer with growing specialty paper and packaging grades. It is a regional player in Latin America that does not directly compete with UPM in Europe but is comparable in sustainable fibre-based packaging products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upm-specialty-papers
• Facebookfacebook.com/UPMGlobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about UPM Specialty Papers