Unilever and Saica Group announce an ongoing collaboration to reduce plastic use in promotional packaging

Unilever and Saica Group have announced a new collaboration to develop a sustainable packaging solution for Axe deodorant duopacks, one of Unilever’s most iconic global brands and a leader of male deodorants in France. The innovative solution has been available in the French market since the last quarter of 2025.

Aligned with their shared commitment to innovation and sustainability, Unilever has replaced the former plastic shrink film used in Axe promotional duopacks with a paper grouping band developed by Saica Group.

This pioneering project reflects Unilever’s ongoing commitment to minimizing virgin plastic use in flexible packaging, aiming to lower its virgin plastic footprint by 40% by 2028 compared to 2019, while also supporting Saica Group’s sustainability strategy to reduce plastic weight of total packaging produced for customers by up to 20%. In addition, the paper grouping band is designed for recycling, contributing to boost the circular economy, one of the main pillars and drivers for Saica Group.

In anticipation of the upcoming European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which includes a ban on single use plastic packaging for promotional bundling, Unilever and Saica Group are taking a forward-thinking approach. By replacing conventional plastic shrink film with a paper banding solution, both companies are aligning with the PPWR’s broader objectives of reducing virgin plastic packaging use, improving recyclability, and supporting the circular economy.

Building on decades of expertise in fiber-based packaging engineering, Saica Group delivered an end-to-end technical solution to Unilever for the transition to sustainable bundling. This included the design and industrial validation of a self-adhesive paper band, optimized for ease of unpacking and consumer handling. The band was developed using high-performance paper engineered for mechanical strength, durability under transport conditions, and compatibility with high-resolution printing process to ensure premium shelf appeal.

Saica also provided specialized implementation support throughout the full deployment lifecycle—from equipment specification and procurement to the installation and commissioning of banding machinery tailored to Unilever’s promotional products lines. The new system also delivers notable energy efficiency gains, replacing high-temperature shrink-wrapping with a low-energy banding process, without affecting packaging speed or quality.

This partnership underscores the strategic alignment between Unilever and Saica Group in leading the transition toward more sustainable packaging solutions, through a combination of material innovation, process engineering and a shared commitment to circularity.

Ibon Aznar, Sustainability Innovation Manager for Flexible Packaging, highlighted: 

“Partnering with Unilever on this project shows how innovation and sustainability can come together to deliver real progress. With this paper-based solution, we’re helping anticipate regulatory changes while maintaining the technical performance and quality design the customer requires. At Saica Flex, we remain committed to supporting our customers in their transition toward truly circular packaging solutions.”

About Saica Group

The Saica Group offers sustainable paper solutions for the manufacturing of corrugated cardboard and packaging, promoting circularity in waste management. With more than 12,000 employees and a presence in Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and the United States, the Saica Group has four business divisions: the manufacturing recycled paper for corrugated cardboard (Saica Paper), waste management and environmental services (Saica Natur), the production of corrugated cardboard packaging (Saica Pack) and flexible packaging (Saica Flex). The group's turnover is 3,662 million euros (consolidated sales on 31 December 2024).

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