AquaKote™ Unbleached Paperboard

AquaKote™ unbleached paperboard (also known as coated unbleached kraft or CUK) is a high-strength sheet when both wet and dry and is ideal for beverage multipacks and frozen food applications.  

Available in a wide range of grades, AquaKote is designed to provide package integrity, line efficiency, and superior performance even in environments with high humidity. It offers high resistance to tear, puncture, and corner crush. 

Made from a blend of renewable wood-based fiber from sustainably managed forests and recycled fiber.

AquaKote™ Unbleached Paperboard

AquaKote Sustainability Benefits

Sustainability Benefits
Renewable Resource
  • Paperboard products like AquaKote unbleached paperboard are made from plant-based fiber, a renewable resource   
Recyclability
  • Paperboard cartons are generally viewed as being widely recycled with >90% of U.S. communities having access to recycling for non-poly-coated paperboard and 60% of communities having access to recycling for poly-coated paperboard (American Forest and Paperboard Association’s Access to Recycling Study 2021) 
Renewable Energy
  • We use up to 65% renewable biomass energy in the manufacturing of our paperboard 

AquaKote Features

Fiber Procurement and Chain of Custody
  • Graphic Packaging International is compliant with Forest Stewardship Council®, Sustainable Forestry Initiative®, and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™ Chain of Custody forest certification standards
Environmental and Safety
  • Complies with California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (California Proposition 65) 
  • Complies with European Union Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
  • Contains no REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) at levels above the 0.1% threshold 
  • Complies with CONEG/Toxics in Packaging laws and with Article 11 of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (94/62/EC) 
Compostability
  • Paperboard is manufactured from plant-based fiber from sustainably managed forests. As there is no specific test for paper compostability, it is recommended that ASTM 6400, 6868, or similar test methods are used to verify the compostable nature of paperboard or paperboard packaging. 
Machine Models
Manufacturing
  • Mills are third-party certified to the ISO 9001: Quality Management System standards 

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AquaKote Product Information

Beverage multipack packaging laid out on the table
Applications
  • Basket carrier multipacks 
  • Fully enclosed multipacks 
  • Wrap and clip-style multipacks 
Benefits

Excellent printability and glue adherence

  • AquaKote provides a superior printing surface that is engineered to deliver excellent print results and a cleaner running press
  • Multiple layers of coating provide a clean surface for high-quality graphics with a naturally beautiful brown back 
  • AquaKote is engineered as a high-strength sheet both wet and dry, that provides high stiffness with high resistance to tear, puncture and corner crush and provides efficient, reliable performance on packaging lines 

Consistent performance in a variety of environments and converting processes

  • Carefully monitored board production and testing ensures that AquaKote unbleached paperboard will run consistently well in all of your printing and converting operations 
  • AquaKote is engineered to provide superior tear resistance when in wet and dry environments 
Specifications
Basestock PropertiesUnits16pt18pt20pt21pt22pt24pt26pt27pt28ptStandard
CaliperInches0.0160.0180.0200.0210.0220.0240.0260.0270.028T-411
ThicknessMicrons406457508533559610660686711T-411
BrightnessGEGE7979797979797979T-452
Compliance

Food contact compliance

  • FDA and EU compliant for contact with dry, non-fatty foods 

Food contact compliance (USA)

  • 21 CFR 176.170 (components of paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods) 
  • 21 CFR 176.180 (components of paper and paperboard in contact with dry foods) 

Food contact compliance (EU)

  • Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food 
  • Manufactured in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 2023/06 on good manufacturing practice for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food