Fluorinated compounds in paper and paperboard based food packaging materials

Paper- and paperboard-based materials are alternatives to petroleum-based plastics in food packaging but unsuitable for their poor moisture and oil resistance. In this sense, fluorinated compounds improve water and grease repellency, though their use is controversial. This Perspective discusses main techniques to combine fluorinated compounds with paper and paperboard, including water and oil contact angles and grease resistance values, and summarizes main legal aspects in Europe and the United States.