Centre Technique du Papier
Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) is a French COFRAC-accredited technical research center in Grenoble that develops cellulose-based barrier packaging technologies and provides accredited laboratory testing, consulting, and training to the paper, packaging, and food-contact industries across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersGrenoble, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Centre Technique du Papier does
Centre Technique du Papier (CTP), founded in 1957 and headquartered in Grenoble, France, is a private technical research center serving the paper, cardboard, and cellulose-based packaging industry. The organization operates three COFRAC-accredited laboratories (chemical, microbiological, sensory) under ISO 17025, alongside pilot-scale production equipment including the NaMiCell microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) line (Microfluidizer and Ariete NS3075 homogenizers), a wet MFC lamination pilot, the world's first industrial-scale chromatogenics grafting pilot (co-developed with CNRS), and a coating pilot. CTP generates revenue through four streams: fee-for-service laboratory testing across a catalog of 700+ tests, paid training programs (e.g., €1,400 HT/person for food contact regulation courses), funded collaborative R&D projects with industrial and EU partners, and technical consulting on regulatory compliance and process optimization.
Its proprietary technologies enable fully cellulose-based, recyclable barrier packaging as an alternative to multi-material plastic laminates. Key innovations include chromatogenics (greffage-based hydrophobic treatment, BfR XXXVI-validated in July 2024), patented wet lamination of MFC onto paper substrates for grease/oxygen/contaminant barriers, and mechano-enzymatic MFC production. The center's customer base spans paper manufacturers, packaging converters, food and agriculture companies, e-commerce and retail, printers, and recyclers, with Citeo (a French eco-organization) being its most significant strategic partner under a €10M+ minimum commitment over 2022–2028. CTP participates in European consortia (Sherpack, CelluWiz, FoodSafeBioPack, Bionanopolys, BARALIM, FLEXLAM) funded by Horizon 2020, BBI-JU, and ANR.
Centre Technique du Papier firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centre Technique du Papier
- Legal name
- Centre Technique de l'Industrie des Papiers, Cartons et Celluloses
- Website
- https://webctp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) is a French COFRAC-accredited technical research center in Grenoble that develops cellulose-based barrier packaging technologies and provides accredited laboratory testing, consulting, and training to the paper, packaging, and food-contact industries across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centre Technique du Papier industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Paper and Packaging Research and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paper & Board Food-Contact Testing (incl. mineral oil MOSH/MOAH, recycled fiber contaminants) (AFALAIAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP) (HLAGADAL)
Keywords
Where Centre Technique du Papier is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grenoble
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Centre Technique du Papier business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services: CTP generates revenue through fee-for-service laboratory testing, including chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses for food contact compliance. Over 700 different tests are cataloged. Testing services cover recyclability, migration studies, barrier performance, and regulatory compliance per DGCCRF, BfR, and FDA standards.
- Training Courses: CTP offers paid training programs on food contact regulation, barrier materials, and manufacturing best practices. Pricing is publicly available (e.g., 1400 EUR HT per person for food contact regulation training, 370 EUR HT for BPF training). Sessions are delivered in-person and via video conference.
- Collaborative R&D Projects: CTP participates in funded collaborative research projects, supported by public and private partners. Citeo's partnership commits 10 million EUR minimum over 6 years (2022-2028). European projects (CelluWiz, Sherpack, Bionanopolys, FoodSafeBioPack) are funded by the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (EU H2020) and ANR.
- Consulting and Expert Advisory Services: CTP provides technical consulting, regulatory expertise, and assistance with food contact compliance declarations. Services include composition analysis, regulatory guidance (France, Germany, EU, US), and best manufacturing practice audits.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Food Contact Regulation Training (QHS-01) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Good Manufacturing Practices Training (WQHS-02) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Laboratory Testing Services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Consulting and Technical Assistance |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Centre Technique du Papier product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CTP provides fee-for-service laboratory testing (chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses under COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation), technical consulting and regulatory expertise for food contact compliance (DGCCRF, BfR, FDA), industry training programs, and collaborative R&D. It also operates pilot-scale equipment for producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), wet MFC lamination for barrier packaging, and Chromatogenics hydrophobic treatment of paper and cardboard.
Product overview
Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) is a technical research center serving the paper and cardboard industry. Its portfolio is organized around a platform of core services — laboratory testing (chemical, sensory, microbiological analyses), consulting and expertise, training, pilot-scale demonstration, collaborative R&D projects, and standardization — supplemented by specialized sub-products and research initiatives. Key equipment includes the NaMiCell MFC production pilots (Microfluidizer and homogenizers), the wet MFC lamination pilot for barrier packaging, and the Chromatogénie pilot for hydrophobic paper treatment. CTP operates three COFRAC-accredited laboratories and conducts collaborative innovation projects including E-Bliss transparent paper, Citeo partnership (2022–2028), FLEXLAM, BARALIM, FoodSafeBioPack, CELLUWIZ, and SHERPACK. The center also provides food contact compliance testing (DGCCRF, BfR XXXVI, FDA 21 CFR), recyclability testing, barrier performance evaluation, regulatory monitoring, and public and private training programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Laboratory Testing Services (Essais Laboratoire)
Quantifiable outcome
- Barrier layer of 16 g/m² MFC achieves OTR below 10 cm³/(m²·day·bar) and reduces mineral oil migration by over 95%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Centre Technique du Papier
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Centre Technique du Papier technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Centre Technique du Papier partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.
- EssityminorEssity hosted CTP's Club STEP (water management) event on October 7-8, 2026 at its facility in Hondouville, France. This reflects an ongoing operational partnership where CTP's technical club meets at member company sites.
- BARALIM Project (2024-2027)majorBARALIM (2024-2027) is a 3-year CTP project targeting functional barrier solutions for recycled fibers in food-contact packaging. The project addresses the challenge of using recycled fibers while meeting sanitary and regulatory requirements for food contact applications.
- FLEXLAM Project (2023-2026)majorFLEXLAM (2023-2026) is a 3-year CTP project focused on developing barrier paper packaging using wet MFC lamination technology for flexible packaging applications. The project aims to adapt the wet MFC lamination pilot for thin, homogeneous coatings on flexible paper supports (<110 g/m²).
- CiteocoreCiteo and CTP renewed their collaborative partnership in November 2022 for a 6-year program (2022-2028) with a minimum commitment of €10 million from Citeo. The partnership focuses on industrializing sustainable paper-carton packaging solutions including barrier materials, recyclability improvements, and food contact innovations. Key projects include E-bliss (transparent thermos-sealable paper for postal packaging), a next-generation 100% cellulose cup, molded fiber food trays, and fiber-based cushioning foams for e-commerce.
- Bionanopolys Project (CTP and CEA-LIST)majorBionanopolys is a European project on bio-based and innovative materials coordinated between CTP and CEA-LIST. A French-language webinar was held on June 14, 2022 to present the project's innovative approaches and alternatives to petrol-based plastics. The project focuses on cellulose, bio-based materials, and innovative processes.
- FoodSafeBioPack Project Consortium (2021-2025)majorFoodSafeBioPack (2021-2025) is an ANR-funded project (ANR-20-CE21-0009) focused on evaluating and managing contaminant migration from cellulose-based packaging. Partners include CTP, 3SR, INRAe, and LNE. The project develops a multi-scale description of contamination transfer and proposes MFC-based functional barriers to address it.
- CelluWiz Project ConsortiummajorCelluWiz (2019-2022) was a European project funded by the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (H2020) coordinated by CTP with 5 partners from 4 European countries. Partners included Stora Enso, Voith, ITENE, and CNRS. The project developed chromatogenics and wet MFC lamination at pilot scale (TRL5) and produced 100% cellulose barrier packaging proof-of-concepts including a hamburger box, cup, and tray.
- Sherpack Project ConsortiummajorSherpack (2017-2020) was a multi-partner EU-funded project coordinated by CTP to develop a fully cellulose-based flexible packaging material. Partners included CTP, ITENE, ISOF, Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Cargill, and Borregaard. The project produced proof-of-concept for a hamburger box, cup, and tray. Achieved OTR below 10 cm3/(m²·day·bar) with only 16 g/m² MFC and reduced mineral oil migration by over 95%.
- CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research)coreCTP collaborated with CNRS to develop the chromatogenics technology, a breakthrough green chemistry process for making paper hydrophobic through molecular grafting. This joint development forms the basis of CTP's industrial chromatography pilot line.
- FCBA (Institut technologique de la forêt, cellulose, bois)majorFCBA's InTechFibres team collaborated with CTP on MFC production development. FCBA's Microfluidizer acquisition in 2006 and subsequent homogenizer equipment in 2011 (funded by ENCELPA) contributed to the foundation of CTP's NaMiCell MFC production pilot.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centre Technique du Papier competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant offering paper and packaging testing (food contact, recyclability, performance) as part of a much wider portfolio. Competes with CTP for testing contracts but lacks CTP's specialized cellulose R&D and pilot focus.
- Intertek: Global TIC provider with packaging and consumer goods testing capabilities. Competes with CTP on regulatory and quality testing but operates a vastly broader service portfolio and lacks CTP's cellulose-pilot and patented barrier technology.
Direct peers
- Celabor SCRL: Belgian collective research center with cellulose, paper, and packaging testing capabilities. Smaller-scale but directly comparable technical center model serving national paper-industry clients in a neighboring EU market.
- Smithers (formerly Smithers Pira): Global packaging testing, research, and consulting provider with deep paper and board testing capabilities. Competes with CTP for converter and brand-owner testing assignments, particularly for EN/ISO recyclability and food-contact compliance work.
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (formerly Innventia): Swedish applied research institute with deep pulp, paper, and packaging capabilities including pilot facilities and accredited laboratories. Closest European peer in scope and scale to CTP, with a parallel mix of public-funded R&D, fee-for-service testing, and cellulose-material innovation programs.
- FCBA (Institut Technologique Forêt Cellulose Bois-Construction Ameublement): French technical institute for forest, cellulose, wood, and construction materials. Explicit CTP partner on MFC production development (FCBA's Microfluidizer equipment underpins CTP's NaMiCell pilot) and serves overlapping French paper/cellulose clients with complementary testing.
- ITENE (Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística): Spanish packaging research and technology center offering laboratory testing, R&D, pilot facilities, and consulting for packaging materials. Direct comparable to CTP — explicitly partnered with CTP in Sherpack and CelluWiz on cellulose-barrier packaging and serves the same converter/brand-owner segments.
- Fraunhofer IVV (Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging): German Fraunhofer institute covering packaging materials, food contact, barrier properties, and recyclability. Competes for the same EU-funded collaborative projects and serves packaging converters and brand owners with overlapping testing and pilot capabilities.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state research center with major industrial biotechnology, cellulose, and packaging materials programs. Comparable mix of pilot-scale demonstrators, accredited testing, and EU-project coordination in bio-based materials.
- EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Swiss federal research institute with active programs in cellulose-based barrier materials, food contact safety, and sustainable packaging. Competes for EU research funding and serves similar end-markets as CTP.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centre Technique du Papier social profiles
Digital presenceCentre Technique du Papier compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Centre Technique du Papier financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centre Technique du Papier leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Centre Technique du Papier funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centre Technique du Papier M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centre Technique du Papier
What does Centre Technique du Papier do?
CTP provides fee-for-service laboratory testing (chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses under COFRAC ISO 17025 accreditation), technical consulting and regulatory expertise for food contact compliance (DGCCRF, BfR, FDA), industry training programs, and collaborative R&D. It also operates pilot-scale equipment for producing microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), wet MFC lamination for barrier packaging, and Chromatogenics hydrophobic treatment of paper and cardboard.
Is Centre Technique du Papier a public or private company?
Centre Technique du Papier is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Centre Technique du Papier founded?
Centre Technique du Papier was founded in 1957. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Centre Technique du Papier based?
Centre Technique du Papier is headquartered in Grenoble, France, in the Europe region.
How does Centre Technique du Papier make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services are the primary driver. The others are training Courses, collaborative R&D Projects and consulting and Expert Advisory Services.
Who are Centre Technique du Papier's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SGS and Intertek. Direct peers are Celabor SCRL, Smithers (formerly Smithers Pira), RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (formerly Innventia), FCBA (Institut Technologique Forêt Cellulose Bois-Construction Ameublement), ITENE (Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística), Fraunhofer IVV (Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and EMPA (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology).
Does Centre Technique du Papier have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centre Technique du Papier.
What industry is Centre Technique du Papier in?
Centre Technique du Papier's product category is Paper and Packaging Research and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFALAIAF, Paper & Board Food-Contact Testing (incl. mineral oil MOSH/MOAH, recycled fiber contaminants), with a secondary code of HLAGADAL, Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.