The water market has grown sharply during the 1990s. This has caused new brands to emerge and the taste and odour (organoleptic) properties of packaging to become the topic of discussion. As a result the Nordic dairy giant Valio has switched to using aluminium-free, Ensobarr barrier coated gable-top packaging in its 1 litre range of drinking waters.

"Our aim was to find an aluminium-free water carton with the best possible organoleptic properties. Water is extremely sensitive to taste and odour. Moreover, the highest possible standard of hygiene is required for packaging of this type," says Valio's Product Manager Pirjo Huhtala.
Following a long period of testing, Valio decided to use aluminium-free, Ensobarr barrier coated gable-top packaging developed by Stora Enso Paperboards. The new barrier coating is reported to provide packaging board with better protective properties than conventional plastic-based coating layers. Also its efficiency is said to be comparable to that of aluminium film.
"In addition to operating in the traditional dairy business, we would like to highlight our presence on the water market. Water can easily be packaged using our existing machinery and we can supply water packed in gable-top cartons through the cold chain. This ensures that the image of water products remains high at all times," says Ms Huhtala.

The new ABC of packaging technology
"In recent years it has been necessary to relearn the ABC of packaging technology, as there has been pressure, particularly from consumers, in this direction. Consumers are extremely environmentally aware and for this reason we strive to be in the vanguard of packaging technology," says Ms Huhtala. As recycling of barrier coated packages is easier than that of packages from aluminium laminates, this step also complies with our environmental management programme.
The Ensobarr coating which has been patented in Europe and the USA is comprised of three coating layers. According to Stora Enso the properties of the coating can be optimised to precisely meet the requirements of the application in question. The thickness of the coating and board grade can also be adjusted. The barrier coating can be as thin as 15 microns without compromising the properties of the packaging. Fons fresh waters are packed in Enso Natura board and Valio also uses the Ensobarr coating for juices, health drinks and yoghurt packed in gable-top cartons.
Valio is among the 15 biggest dairy product companies in Europe. Besides milk production, which is mainly carried out in Finland, Valio has heavily invested in new business areas and markets in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Captions:
1. Fons fresh waters are packed in aluminium-free Ensobarr barrier coated board. Patents for the new coating have been granted in Europe and the United States.
2. "Valio has switched to using aluminium-free gable-top packaging as preferred by consumers," says Product Manager Pirjo Huhtala.

For urther information please contact:
Enso Polska Sp. zo.o.
Mr Henrik Stjernvall
Ul. Dzika 19/23 m.54
PL-00172 Warsaw
Tel: +48 22 635 2540,635 8400, 635 1
Fax: +48 22 635 3229

Enso-Eurocan Hong Kong Ltd.
Mr Donny Chan
Rm.1406, 14th Floor
World Trade Centre
280 Gloucester Road
Causeway Bay
Hong Kong S.A.R.
Tel: +852 2895 2063
Fax: +852 2576 1480

Enso-Eurocan South East Asia Pte. Ltd.
M.D. Tom Alftan
360 Orchard Road
#11-01 International Building
SG-Singapore 238869
Tel: +65 235 3485
Fax: +65 737 4278

Enso-Eurocan Far East Co. Ltd.
M.D. Eero Ala-Jääski
KM Nishiumeda Bldg.
20-1, Fukushima 7-chome
Fukushima-ku
J-Osaka 553
Tel: +81 6 6455 6811
Fax: +81 6 6455 8811

Paper Agencies (Aust.) Pty Ltd
Mr John Walker
Suite 5, 102 Alfred Street
Milsons Point, NSW 2061
Tel: +61 2 9957 3177
Fax: +61 2 9957 1505

Paper Agencies (Aust.) Pty Ltd
Mr Graham Johnson
554 Burwood Road
Hawthorn, Vic. 3122
Tel: +61 3 9819 4911
Fax: +61 3 9819 4250

Enso (Middle East)
M.D. Pentti Raivio
R/A 8 - HB1
Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai
Mail: P.O.B. 61265
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 4 836 819
Fax: +971 4 836 826

Enso Interamericas, Inc.
Mr Matts Rehn
8750 Doral Boulevard, Suite 270
Miami, FL 33178
Tel: +1 305 716 9799
Fax: +1 305 716 5441

Enso International, Inc.
Mr Seppo Suuronen
281 Tresser Blvd., 15th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
Tel: +1 203 978 1755
Fax: +1 203 978 1237

Enso Marketing Co. Ltd.
Mr Roy Bray
Enso House, New Mill Road
GB-Orpington
Kent BR5 3TW
Tel: 01689 836 911
Fax: 01689 829 732

STORA ENSO
U URANIE 18
170 00 PRAHA 7
Tel: +420 2 660 94 555
Fax: +420 2 660 94 540

Stora Enso Paperboards
Tapani Penttinen
P.O. Box 25
FIN-48601 Karhula
Tel: +358 2 046 26755
Fax: +358 2 046 26774

STORA ENSO AT A GLANCE
Stora Enso started operations at the end of December 1998, as a result of a merger between Finland's Enso and Sweden's STORA. The registered office of the new company is in Helsinki and its shares are listed on the Helsinki and Stockholm stock exchanges.
Stora Enso is a forest products company with worldwide operations. The Group's annual net sales total more than EUR 10 billion. The company has more than 50 production units and some 40 000 employees. Customers in more than 60 countries are served by the Group's own marketing network.
The core business areas are Magazine Papers, Newsprint, Fine Papers and Packaging Boards. Stora Enso holds globally leading positions in these product areas and serves customers in the printing, graphic communications and packaging sectors.
In the areas of sawn goods and value-added sawmill products, the Group is the second largest global supplier to the construction and joinery industries.
Another area of core expertise is environmental affairs, which is regarded as an integrated part of overall business management.
While having its primary markets in Europe, Stora Enso is a company with a strong international presence. Its global structure enables the Group to serve customers and develop operations in line with changing and increasing needs.
The Group target is to increase efficiency and shareholder value by supplying high quality and cost competitive products to its customers. Profitable growth opportunities will be pursued from a sound financial base.

STORA ENSO PACKAGING BOARDS
The Packaging Board's division produces consumer packaging boards, corrugated boards and boxes, sack and kraft paper, coreboards, cores, fluting, laminating papers and impregnated films. Packaging boards are primarily used in the paper, packaging, food and other industrial sectors.
The division is headed by Pekka Laaksonen and the divisional head office is situated in Helsinki, Finland.
The Packaging Boards division comprises the business units Paperboards, Cartonboards, Containerboards & Kraft Papers as well as the subsidaries Pakenso, Corenso and Laminating Papers.
Niilo Pöyhönen will be in charge of the Paperboards business unit. The unit's mills are Imatra and Karhula in Finland and Skoghall in Sweden.
Ragnar Törner will be in charge of the Cartonboards business unit. The unit's mills are Baienfurt in Germany, Castellbisbal in Spain, Mölndal and Fors in Sweden, Newton Kyme in the United Kingdom and Ingerois and Pankakoski in Finland.
The Containerboards & Kraft Papers business unit will be headed by Pekka Suursalmi. The unit's mills are Gruvön in Sweden and Heinola in Finland.

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