UPM Solide Lucent from UPM-Kymmene Oyj - translucent kraft for premium packaging

Reviewed: ad hoc news Classics & Longseller desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-28, 09:58. Details in the imprint.

UPM Solide Lucent from UPM-Kymmene Oyj looks almost like frosted glass when you hold a folded gift box up to the light, the product logo still shimmering through the kraft fibers. Brand owners and converters use this translucent paperboard where they once defaulted to plastic.

How the board is built

UPM Solide Lucent is a high-density, translucent kraft paperboard designed for packaging that needs both stiffness and a hint of see-through effect. The sheet feels smooth on the coated print side yet slightly raw on the back, which helps grip during filling and handling.

According to UPM's packaging materials team led by director Mika Joukio, the board combines long-fiber kraft pulp with a controlled formation process to reach high strength at relatively low grammage. That allows customers to down-gauge material while keeping boxes and sleeves mechanically reliable in automated packing lines.

What it is used for

Packaging designers pick Solide Lucent for premium folding boxes, sleeves around cosmetics or confectionery, and for shopping bags where they want the product shape to shine through. In a perfume box, for example, the bottle outline remains visible while the printed artwork stays sharp and clean on the surface.

Converters appreciate that the board can be creased, embossed and die-cut with existing folding carton lines, so they do not need exotic tools. Printers report that water-based and UV inks adhere consistently, with minimal dot gain, which helps when small text and fine gradients are part of the layout.

Strength, translucency and feel

In the hand, Solide Lucent feels denser than typical folding boxboard of the same thickness. When you gently bend a carton corner, it resists cracking, which matters for cosmetics or chocolate boxes that might travel long distances and still need to look tidy on the shelf.

The partially see-through look is achieved without plastic film or separate windows. That means a simpler, mono-material structure that makes it easier for sorting lines to recognize the pack as paper and route it into existing recycling streams, a point UPM sustainability lead Antti Jääskeläinen has highlighted in conference talks.

Where it fits into UPM's range

Solide Lucent sits alongside UPM's more opaque boards and label materials as a specialty for brands seeking a lighter visual language. While traditional white cartons create a fully closed impression, this grade lets design teams play with shadow and light, for example by printing only parts of the surface and leaving others bare.

The product is primarily targeted at European converters, but UPM also promotes it to global brand owners through its packaging design network. For smaller runs, some regional merchants stock the board in sheets, allowing local printers to test it in limited campaigns without committing to full mill orders.

Stock and investor angle

UPM-Kymmene, headquartered in Helsinki, positions Solide Lucent as part of its move from traditional printing papers toward higher-margin specialty packaging materials. For investors, the UPM-Kymmene share price on Nasdaq Helsinki remains a reference for how far this transition toward renewable packaging will pay off in earnings over the coming years.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.