ABOUT
Brand Concept
Value Co-Creator
Our journey began in 1969 with the development of a new material,
YUPO synthetic paper, which combines the characteristics of both paper and film.
Since our founding, we have been supported by our many customers under our long-standing spirit
of creating new value, and we have continued to learn, create, and evolve together.
Looking ahead, we aim to go beyond synthetic paper to become a
creative substrates brand, delivering products, services, and experiences
that excite our customers, society, and ourselves.
Value Co-Creator
We are a manufacturer that creates smiles together.
By working alongside our customers, we continue to
create new value and deliver joy and inspiration to the world.
YUPO's History
A leading company in synthetic paper
In the late 1960s, during a period of rapid economic growth when demand for paper was soaring, YUPO began its journey as an innovative synthetic paper manufacturer. We filed foundational patents in Japan as well as across Europe and the United States for the manufacturing technology of "FP Paper," a synthetic paper later named YUPO. Media outlets soon reported that a "dream paper" had been developed, prompting a flood of inquiries from around 150 companies in Europe and North America.
As a result, YUPO became widely known as a leading company in synthetic paper. Since then, responding to changes in society and the times, we have continued to develop a wide range of products and applications. From its inception to the present day, YUPO has consistently delivered unique value on a global scale.
What is synthetic paper?
Synthetic paper is a material made primarily from petroleum-based synthetic resins. While it has properties similar to plastic film, such as strength and water resistance, it also shares paper-like characteristics, including opacity and printability. When it was first introduced, it attracted attention as a new printing material that combined the advantages of paper and film, and it has been widely used in applications requiring durability, such as outdoor posters, maps, and cards.
In recent years, products combining resin with conventional paper materials have also emerged, further broadening the definition of synthetic paper. Today, rather than the term "synthetic paper," products are more commonly known by their individual product names and the functional characteristics developed by each manufacturer.
History of synthetic paper
In 1968, during Japan's period of rapid economic growth, concerns arose over the sharp increase in paper demand and the depletion of forest resources. In response, the Resources Council of the former Science and Technology Agency of Japan issued its "Recommendations Regarding the Fostering of the Synthetic-Paper Industry." Many companies entered the field, and commercial production of film-based synthetic paper began.
However, early products faced challenges in printability and processability. Following the oil crises of 1973 and 1979, many manufacturers withdrew from the market. Even so, a few companies, including YUPO, continued making improvements. By leveraging strengths such as durability and water resistance, they expanded the market in niche applications like maps and labels. Today, synthetic paper has grown into a high-performance material used across a wide range of fields.
Types and manufacturing methods of synthetic paper
YUPO is basically produced using a biaxially oriented film process, in which petroleum-based synthetic resin is blended with inorganic filling materials and additives, extruded through a die, and stretched in two directions. During this process, countless micro-voids (micro-scale cavities) are formed inside the material. These voids scatter light, creating whiteness and opacity. Surface texture enhances printability and writability, while the void structure also contributes to weight reduction.
As a result, YUPO retains the inherent strength and water resistance of film while achieving a unique material that can be handled like paper. Other synthetic resin sheet manufacturing methods include the fiber process, in which fibers are formed and made into paper using papermaking machines, and the film lamination process, which bonds existing films together. Today, however, the film-based process is the mainstream approach. Among all the manufacturing methods, YUPO's is regarded as a representative example and is used across a wide range of applications.
Strengths and Features
From synthetic paper to creative substrates
YUPO is known worldwide as one of the leading synthetic paper materials. Its core strengths include excellent water resistance, durability, and expressive print quality. Lightweight yet strong, YUPO is also resistant to oils and chemicals, offering a wide range of functional advantages. Beyond this, YUPO has evolved into a creative substrate that can be customized for gloss, adhesion, cleanroom compatibility, environmental performance, and more, depending on the application and usage environment.
From printed materials and labels to molded products, YUPO offers a diverse lineup that balances design appeal with practical performance. As a creative substrate that goes beyond conventional synthetic paper, YUPO continues to meet needs around the world.
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Resistance to oils and chemicals
Resists oils as well as acids, alkalis, and organic solvents, maintaining quality over long periods.
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Cleanroom compatibility(low particle emission)
Particle emission is approximately one-hundredth that of fine paper, with a structure that minimizes dust generation even when bent or rubbed.
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Lightweight andcushioning properties
Thanks to its special structure, YUPO weighs about two-thirds as much as coated paper of the same thickness and is light enough to float on water.
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Label compatibility
Supports a wide range of labeling applications, including standard labels, in-mold labels, and water-based adhesives.
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Wide variety of options
Available in textures such as translucent, Japanese paper-style, and metallic finishes, and in a broad range of thicknesses.
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Writability
Compatible with oil-based pens, and some products can also be written on with pencils, offering a smooth writing experience.
How YUPO Is Made
Expanding possibilities through multi-layer
structure and core technologies
YUPO features a multi-layer structure in which a base layer is laminated with surface layers. Strength is ensured by the base layer, while the stretching process creates countless micro-voids in the surface layers. These voids scatter light, giving the material a bright white appearance, along with excellent printability, writability, and reduced weight.
By combining this multi-layer structure with YUPO's core technologies, it's possible to achieve not only the inherent strength and water resistance of film, but also resistance to oils and chemicals, low particle emission, and many other properties. Including variations in thickness, the product lineup now numbers in the hundreds, enabling YUPO to meet diverse needs around the world.
Co-Creation Solutions
As a co-creation partner
We have reorganized our internal structure to move beyond being a manufacturer that simply develops and sells synthetic paper, toward becoming a co-creation partner that supports customer projects and helps overcome their challenges.
Specifically, we have established a collaborative solution framework in which our sales and marketing teams, which are well-versed in our products and applications, work closely with our technical support and development teams, which possess deep expertise in printing and post-processing. Guided by our "Value Co-Creator" philosophy, we work together with our customers to create new value.
Global Presence and Track Record
Over 50 years of experience in more than 80 countries
Since the start of commercial production in 1971, YUPO has consistently delivered products adapted to the latest printing and processing technologies to markets in Japan and overseas. YUPO has been used in more than 80 countries, seen throughout cities around the world, and has grown into one of the leading global brands in synthetic paper.
In addition to product development and sales, we leverage over 50 years of accumulated expertise to provide a wide range of fast, flexible support, from product design tailored to your needs to prototyping, evaluation, and final production.
Working in collaboration with Oji Holdings Corporation and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, we deliver a variety of solutions as a trusted partner who stays close to customers both in Japan and around the world.
