Kareline® & Kupilka®
Material Guide
Our Material
Kareline®
Kupilka® products are made from Kareline® Natural Fibre Composite, consisting of 50 % Nordic Softwood Cellulose and 50 % food-grade polyolefins. The material is BPA-free.
The material was developed in Joensuu, Finland, at the turn of millennium. Plasthill Oy has been manufacturing Kareline® Natural Fibre Composites since 2011 and Kupilka® products since 2014.
General Information About the Material
Kareline® Natural Fibre Composites are versatile materials that combine the best properties of softwood cellulose and plastics.
The natural fibre composite used in Kupilka® products consists of 50 % Nordic softwood cellulose from certified forests and 50 % food-grade polyolefins. The material has a total biobased content of 62 %, as a part of the fossil based plastics has been replaced wit bio-based plastics.
In the composite, the softwood cellulose acts as the reinforcing material, while the polyolefins serves as the binding agent.
History of Material
The roots of Kareline® Natural Fibre Composites lie in Joensuu, North Karelia, Finland. Around the turn of the millenium, was the new type of composite materials developed at the wood centre called Puugia. Those materials combined wood fibres and plastics. As the result, Kareline® Natural Fibre Composites were introduced to the market, offering a unique combination of Nordic softwood cellulose and polyolefins.
The history of Kareline® materials and Kupilka® producs is closely interwined. Industrial designer Heikki Koivurova, who was involved in the original composite development project, and entrepreneur and innovator Kari Kuisma combined their expertise. Their collaboration led to the launch of a unique outdoor cup, Kupilka 21, in 2003.
Our own interest in Kareline® materials began in the early 2010s, when we were looking for a suitable material for our Kaarna serving trays. This cooperation eventually resulted in acquuisition of the Kareline® business, and in 2011 we started manufacturing Kareline® Natural Fibre Composites ourselves. At that time, the material was also supplied to Meskari Joensuu, the manufacturer of Kupilka® products at the time.
This collaboration ultimately led to the acquisition of the Kupilka® brand and product line, and in 2014 we also began manufacturing and selling Kupilka® products our selves.
Why Kareline®?
Properties
Products made from Kareline® Natural Fibre Composite have excellent properties.
The products are lightweight and dishwasher-safe, and the have a wide range of operating temperature. Their appearance is unique, and the products can personalized with engravings.