Tonghe Paper spotlights five molded pulp makers in China

Tonghe Paper Co., LTD has published a market overview of five Chinese molded pulp manufacturers as global demand rises for plastic-free packaging. The review highlights regulatory pressure, supply-chain capacity, and technical capabilities for buyers in food, electronics, and medical markets.

Why it matters: - Molded pulp packaging is gaining ground as brands look for recyclable and compostable alternatives to plastic and expanded polystyrene foam. - The global molded pulp packaging market was valued at $6.2 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach $10.2 billion by 2033. - The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requires packaging on the EU market to be recyclable by Jan. 1, 2030, increasing pressure on suppliers to shift to fiber-based materials. - Buyers in food, electronics and medical devices are leaning harder on molded fiber trays because of sustainability targets, plastic taxes and compliance demands.

What happened: - Tonghe Paper Co., LTD, a pulp molding manufacturer in Dongguan, China, published a review of five reputable molded pulp manufacturers in China. - The company said the overview is meant to help global buyers find suppliers for molded pulp trays, custom protective fiber packaging and food-safe biodegradable packaging. - The review highlights Tonghe Paper, Huhtamaki, YFY Packaging, Oji Holdings and Mondi as companies active in China's molded pulp sector. - Tonghe included a market context tied to regulatory change and rising demand across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.

The details: - Asia Pacific accounted for 41.0% of global molded pulp packaging revenue in 2025, and China held the largest regional share. - The tray segment represented more than 41.0% of global revenue, underscoring strong demand for pulp trays in food, electronics and medical device applications. - Tonghe Paper was established in 2023 and operates a 23,000-square-meter facility in Qiaotou Town, Dongguan. - Tonghe Paper employs 160 people, including a 12-person engineering team focused on mold development, and reports annual output capacity of 12,000 tons. - About 50% of Tonghe's output is exported to the European Union, the United States, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Brazil. - Tonghe produces custom molded pulp trays, food-grade trays, cosmetic packaging trays, medical device trays and protective packaging for electronics. - The company works with sugarcane pulp, bamboo pulp and wood pulp. - Tonghe states its products fully biodegrade within 28 days in a natural composting environment. - Tonghe says its molded pulp packaging weighs about 50% less than traditional hard gift boxes, helping reduce storage space and long-distance logistics costs. - Product data supplied by Tonghe lists wet pressure of 0.15–0.25 g/cm³, dry pressure of 0.28–0.45 g/cm³ and adjustable thickness from 0.8 mm to 5.0 mm. - Tonghe lists moisture content of 8% to 12%, edge crush strength of 3 to 8 kN/m and compressive strength of 2 to 8 MPa. - Standard trays operate from -20°C to 80°C, while food-grade versions can withstand up to 120°C. - Tonghe supports special coating, embossing and printing for brand-specific packaging requirements. - Tonghe says its products meet SGS RoHS and PFAS-free requirements for markets with strict chemical restrictions. - The company offers custom mold design for irregular shapes and OEM molded pulp tray development. - Huhtamaki operates multiple manufacturing sites in China and is known for fiber-based foodservice packaging, including molded fiber trays, clamshells and portion containers. - Huhtamaki has invested in renewable fiber technology and offers products designed for food-contact safety and industrial compostability. - YFY Packaging, part of Taiwan's Yuen Foong Yu group, supplies paper-based packaging for fresh produce, foodservice and consumer goods. - YFY's molded pulp products are used to replace foam trays in fruit, vegetable and meat packaging. - YFY is vertically integrated from pulp sourcing to finished packaging, supporting stable supply for retail and food chains. - Oji Holdings operates production facilities in China and supplies protective pulp trays for electronics, household appliances and food packaging. - Oji's strength is raw material control and large-scale paper fiber processing. - Mondi operates in China and has expanded paper-based protective packaging, including molded fiber solutions for e-commerce and industrial products. - Mondi focuses on reducing plastic in protective and void-fill packaging and offers access to global design standards. - Molded pulp packaging is used most often in food and fresh produce, electronics and appliances, and medical devices. - In food applications, molded pulp trays made from sugarcane and bamboo fiber are used for disposable cutlery, lunch boxes, hamburger boxes and fresh produce packaging. - These food applications require moisture control, oil resistance and food-contact compliance. - For electronics, molded fiber trays provide shock absorption and vibration damping. - Tonghe's product documentation says anti-static versions can be produced for electronic components and connectors. - Customized cavities help secure products during transit and reduce the need for foam and vacuum-formed plastic inserts. - In medical device packaging, molded pulp trays must meet stricter cleanliness and sterilization requirements. - Tonghe says its medical device trays are made from virgin wood pulp free of fluorescent agents, produced in a clean workshop and available with material inspection reports. - Tonghe supports EO sterilization compatibility and custom cavities for probes, handles, catheters and surgical instrument components. - Tonghe described its work as converting recycled paper and bagasse fiber into biodegradable packaging alternatives to disposable plastic and foam. - Tonghe says its factory combines automated production lines with in-house mold development and serves electronics, lighting, gifts, food and wine customers. - Tonghe said it exports to Europe, North America, Southeast Asia and other markets. - The molded pulp tray segment remains the largest product category in the global market, accounting for more than 41% of revenue in 2025. - Analysts say buyers are prioritizing trays that offer structural protection, custom fit and compatibility with automated packaging lines. - Chinese manufacturers are expanding custom mold capabilities and lightweight designs, while global groups provide scale and compliance infrastructure. - China's molded pulp supply chain benefits from raw material availability, mature mold-making capabilities and established export logistics. - Medical molded pulp packaging is expected to attract more suppliers into clean-room production and sterilization-compatible designs over the next several years.

Between the lines: - The review shows that molded pulp is moving from a niche sustainability option to a regulated packaging requirement in some export markets. - Chinese suppliers with in-house mold development, export-ready compliance and lightweight designs appear best positioned to win multinational orders. - The fastest-growing opportunities likely sit in food trays and medical packaging, where performance requirements are stricter and switching costs are higher.

What's next: - The market is expected to intensify as global molded pulp packaging grows toward the 2033 forecast. - Procurement teams will keep weighing certification, custom mold lead times, minimum order quantities and shipping efficiency. - Suppliers that can document recyclability, PFAS-free status and other environmental claims are likely to gain an edge with large brand owners. - Tonghe directs readers to the company's announcement for more information.