What Is PE Coated Paper?

Introduction

Over the years, paper has evolved far beyond its original form. To meet modern packaging needs, many new types of paper have been developed — and PE coated paper is one of the most widely used. You might not recognize the name, but you’ve definitely encountered it in your daily life. In this article, you’ll learn what PE coated paper is, how it’s made, and why it plays such an important role in today’s packaging industry.

Structure and Manufacturing Process of PE Coated Paper

PE coated paper, also known as laminated paper or poly coated paper, is a composite material made of two layers: a base paper and a PE coating layer.

The base paper is usually high-quality ivory board, kraft paper, or coated paper that offers good stiffness and printability. The coating layer is made from food-grade polyethylene (PE) pellets, a type of thermoplastic material widely used in food packaging.

During production, the PE pellets are melted and evenly extruded onto the paper surface through a coating machine. After cooling, pressing, and corona treatment, the PE film tightly bonds with the paper surface, forming a smooth and durable composite. The corona treatment increases the surface tension of the PE layer, which improves ink adhesion during printing and ensures stable quality.

This laminated structure combines the printability and eco-friendly nature of paper with the moisture, grease, and heat-sealing resistance of plastic, offering the best of both materials.

Key Features of PE Coated Paper

PE coated paper offers a range of outstanding properties that make it ideal for packaging applications:

Excellent Water and Moisture Resistance

Paper naturally absorbs moisture, but once coated with PE film, it becomes water-resistant. The dense PE layer effectively prevents water vapor from passing through, keeping the contents dry and protected.

Strong Grease and Stain Resistance

This material is perfect for packaging oily or greasy foods. The coating prevents oil or liquid from soaking through the paper, keeping the outer surface clean — ideal for burger wraps, bakery paper, fried food bags, and other food packaging papers.

Heat Sealable

Thanks to the thermoplastic nature of PE, laminated paper can be heat-sealed to create leak-proof packaging. This makes it highly suitable for automatic packing machines and improves production efficiency.

Soft, Safe, and Eco-Friendly

PE coated paper feels smooth and non-irritating to the touch. The food-grade PE coating is non-toxic, odorless, and safe for direct food contact, meeting FDA and EU food safety standards.

Excellent Printability and Compatibility

After coating, the surface becomes smooth and glossy, suitable for offset printing, flexographic printing, and gravure printing. With additional treatment, it can even be used for adhesive backing paper, tapes, or composite materials.

Types of PE Coated Paper for Food Packaging

Food packaging is the most common use of PE coated paper. Depending on the number of coated layers, it can be divided into single PE coated paper and double PE coated paper.

Single PE Coated Paper

This type has a PE coating on one side only. It’s typically used when one surface needs to resist water or oil — such as paper cups, food wraps, burger paper, bread bags, and baked goods packaging.

The coated side prevents oil and moisture from seeping through, while the uncoated side allows for easy printing and labeling.

Double PE Coated Paper

This type has PE coatings on both sides, offering enhanced waterproofing and insulation properties. It’s ideal for cold drink cups, ice cream cups, yogurt cups, and other containers that need protection from both sides.

All food-grade laminated papers use non-toxic and odorless PE coatings, ensuring they can safely come into direct contact with food without releasing any harmful substances.

Comparison With Other Packaging Materials

Compared with ordinary paper, PE coated paper provides much better resistance to moisture, oil, and grease.

Compared with pure plastic packaging, it’s more eco-friendly, easier to recycle, and biodegradable, while still delivering excellent print quality.

As environmental regulations tighten, many businesses are switching from plastic packaging to PE coated or PLA coated paper as part of the global paper-based packaging movement. By adjusting the coating thickness and formulation, manufacturers can maintain protective performance while reducing plastic content — achieving the goal of “replace plastic with paper.”

In practical applications, companies can choose different paper bases and coating weights to balance cost and performance:

For cold drink cups, double PE coated white cardboard provides superior waterproofing.

For burger wraps or bakery packaging, single PE coated kraft paper offers good grease resistance.

For eco-conscious brands, PLA coated paper or water-based coated paper is an excellent sustainable alternative.

Development Trends in PE Coated Paper

With growing awareness of sustainable packaging, PE coated paper is evolving toward eco-friendly and biodegradable materials. Traditional PE coatings, though effective, are non-degradable. To reduce environmental impact, more manufacturers are turning to PLA (polylactic acid) coatings and water-based barrier technologies that provide similar protection while being compostable.

At the same time, advancements in automated packaging lines require coated papers with improved heat-seal stability, surface smoothness, and curl resistance. High-quality food packaging papers must now meet stricter standards for flatness, sealing strength, and thickness uniformity to ensure efficient and reliable performance during high-speed production.

Conclusion

PE coated paper — the perfect blend of paper and plastic — delivers both protection and sustainability. From food service to pharmaceuticals and industrial uses, it continues to play an essential role in modern packaging. At Golden Paper, we specialize in producing high-quality PE coated paper, kraft paper, and other specialty papers for printing and packaging. Contact us today to request samples or get a customized quotation for your business needs!