Lecta has launched EraCup Natural Pure, a solid bleached board (SBB) for paper cup applications, addressing the demand for fibre-based alternatives to plastic-coated materials.

The new product is made from renewable resources and designed to combine barrier performance with industrial efficiency for paper cup manufacturing.

EraCup Natural Pure uses a bio-based barrier coating that the company said is derived from “naturally occurring plant sugars” to provide a plastic-free barrier.

This is combined with a “sealing varnish” applied on engineered sealing areas, enabling the production of paper cups compliant with the EU's Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) requirements.

The company has collaborated with printing and coating technologies supplier Comexi to provide a ready-to-use and scalable system for paper cup production.

The board is available in grammages ranging from 200g/m² to 320g/m².

It has an uncoated, smooth surface with a natural appearance and is suited to both flexographic and offset printing.

According to Lecta, the product is “fully repulpable and recyclable within standard paper recycling streams”.

It is intended for on-the-go applications and offers resistance to water and grease.

EraCup Natural Pure expands Lecta’s existing EraCup portfolio, which includes EraCup Natural and EraBase 1S.

The new addition is based on renewable, bio-based and non-chemically modified resources.

In March, Lecta said its full range of packaging papers, including those used for food applications, is now produced without the intentional addition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The company said this followed an assessment of product formulations, more selective sourcing of raw materials, and oversight across its supply chain.