I have 25 lives because our flexible packaging paper can be recycled up to 25 times

I’m no dinosaur because our flexible packaging paper is the future

I’m better at recycling because our flexible packaging paper can be disposed of as waste paper

I’m smarter than plastic because our flexible packaging paper is the perfect protection

Pack it in paper

When it comes to packaging, barrier paper offer the same performance as plastic for many applications. We’ll show you what barrier paper can do, how they run smoothly on existing packaging machinery, and how to successfully switch to paper. Regulatory compliance? Standardisable? Single-material? Recyclable?

80 %

for paper

41 %

for plastic

Source: Eurostat, 2024; European Paper Recycling Council, Monitoring Report 2023

CO₂ emissions per tonne produced

0.9 t

for paper

6.4 t

for plastic

Source: Plastics Europe, Plastics – the Facts 2021 + oxidisation of PP; EcoInvent 3.6 – coated paper production + municipal incineration of paperboard; 30.08.2023

Example: Average EPR costs across 19 European countries

304 € / t

for paper

679 € / t

for plastic

Source: Simulation using Recyda software

The area of European forests is growing every day.

1,500

Football pitches

Source: FAO data, 2005 – 2020

Koehler meets most of its energy needs from sustainable sources

85 %

for electricity

74 %

for heating

Source: Koehler

Fresh fibres at Koehler

14.9 %

controlled cultivation

85.1 %

certified sources

Source: Koehler 2022

Paper Store

Discover paper-based packaging solutions for food and consumer goods

“Pack It in Paper” on Tour

The Koehler Cat is traveling across Germany to raise awareness about the recyclability of packaging paper.

nucao

June 15, 2026, Leipzig

Paper doesn’t run on modern packaging machines designed for plastic? Not a chance. Nucao easily debunks this myth, as the confectionery manufacturer packages its entire product line in Paper from Koehler paper.

Procter & Gamble

June 12, 2026, Schwalbach am Taunus

A package’s job is short, but its life after that can be very long. That’s why we’re exploring how packaging can become tomorrow’s raw material rather than yesterday’s waste.

Nestlé

June 12, 2026, Frankfurt am Main

Packaging small portions individually is no easy task. Yet single-serve packaging is necessary, especially in the convenience and out-of-home sectors.

Bad Wimpfen

June 11, 2026, Bad Wimpfen

Large discount retailers handle massive volumes of goods and must pay particular attention to efficiency—including when it comes to packaging. In this context, paper not only reduces the amount of plastic used but also lowers EPR costs.

Ritter Sport

June 10, 2026, Waldenbuch

This innovative brand sets the standard across the entire chocolate industry and serves as a model for many other manufacturers.

Ulm

June 10, 2026, Ulm

Major retail companies play a key role in deciding which product packaging to use.

Koehler Paper

June 9, 2026, Kehl

This is where the flexible packaging papers are produced, which can be recycled up to 25 times.

Cardboard cat on a cart as a promotional figure for ChocoFlex chocolate with roasted almonds and the slogan "I have 25 lives"

Paper Stories

Case studies and background stories on the switch to paper-based packaging

Paper strengthens brands

Paper protects products. But it can do more than that: it changes how people perceive brands. Packaging has long since become more than just a shell, a barrier and a means of transport. It is a signal – for quality, responsibility and trust.

Over-engineered? Why less barrier can be more

For years, packaging meant maximum barrier, maximum protection. Modular barrier papers demonstrate how tailored barrier solutions can effectively combine product protection, recyclability, and material efficiency.

Breakfast with a Future

From fruity to chocolatey, porridge offers a quick and easy breakfast solution for hassle-free daily routines. RUF and Koehler Paper demonstrate how practical convenience and recyclable paper packaging can be combined.

Stylized fork and spoon behind torn purple paper in a modern flat graphic design

Sustainability on a Roll

Cutlery wrapped in plastic foil: It’s hygienic and practical in the catering industry—but it generates a lot of plastic waste. Now there’s a recyclable alternative made of paper.

Brandenburg Gate with pink Koehler Paper vehicles for "Pack's mit Papier" campaign, screens with "Ich habe 25 Leben" slogans

Wow Instead of Meow – Cat on the Road

A cat has many lives, just like paper. To raise awareness of paper packaging, a special cat was out and about in Berlin.

Cup of herbal tea with LEROS teabag, detox sachet and fresh red berries and herbs arranged on a rustic wooden surface

Time for Tea!

Tea lovers can recycle Leros herbal tea packaging with their regular paper waste. The tea manufacturer uses high-tech paper—and is right on trend.

Clear oat flakes bag and blue wholegrain oat flakes package placed side by side against a green background layout view

Make packaging more sustainable, reduce EPR costs

Paper isn't just a more sustainable alternative to plastic for many types of packaging. It also offers clear advantages in terms of overall costs, as is evident when comparing packaging for oatmeal.

Compressed bales of colorful recycled packaging scraps in red, blue and white tones inside a waste sorting facility

Living Many Lives

Flexible packaging papers are on the rise. This means empty waffle bags can go straight into paper recycling – and come back as premium packaging for luxury watches.