Juho Korkala, Managing Director at Biaxis Oy

Juho holds a Master’s degree in Environmental and Energy Technology from Tampere University of Technology and has over 14 years of experience in flexible packaging. As Managing Director of Biaxis Oy, a Finnish manufacturer of biaxially oriented polyamide films, he drives innovation in sustainable packaging solutions. Juho also serves on the Advanced Packaging Association Steering Committee, where he promotes circularity in advanced packaging materials.

Here he speaks to ORIENTATE about European BOPA manufacturing, the impact of global oversupply and how organisations like Advanced Packaging Association are working to support future demand growth.

OR: Juho, with nearly 15 years of experience in the packaging industry, how has your background prepared you for your current role as Managing Director of Biaxis Oy?

JK: BOPA manufacturers need to adjust to the future needs of the market and to do that we need to understand our customer needs and in what direction the legislation is going. My strong background in film converting, in technical and business development roles that were often closely related to sustainable packaging solutions, have given me a great background to understand the market needs and in what direction the BOPA market must develop in the future.

OR: Biaxis Oy has pioneered the development of BOPA films since it started production in 1996. For those less familiar with the company, please could you provide a brief overview of its history and production capabilities?

JK: Biaxis Oy is a joint venture between Sojitz Corporation and Wihuri Group. We started producing BOPA films in Finland in 1996 and since then we have expanded our BOPA production to meet the market demand. In 2024, Biaxis Oy joined the Advanced Packaging Association (APA) to work with the other industry leaders in pursuit of jointly generating scientific data about recyclability of advanced packaging solutions such as BOPA.

OR: As a joint venture company of Wihuri Group and Sojitz Corporation, what kinds of synergies are available to Biaxis Oy?

JK: We sell our films through Sojitz SOLVADIS, which is the European chemical distribution arm of Japan's Sojitz Corporation. This gives us wider access to customers in Europe and the global market. Wihuri Group gives us access to the supporting functions of a larger scale corporation.

OR: You are also one of several European BOPA manufacturers. How do your products and services stand out from others on the market?

JK: Biaxis Oy is known for its reliability, quality and its innovative approach to the market. We train our employees to keep customer centricity at the core of our work, making sure that we deliver what we promise, and that the quality meets customers’ expectations. We are also always open-minded, working with our customers to develop customised solutions for their specialised needs.

OR: Last year Biaxis Oy became a member of the Advanced Packaging Association. What has it been like to be a part of this growing network?

JK: Joining the Advanced Packaging Association (APA) was an easy decision and being part of the APA has been highly valuable for Biaxis. It has allowed us to leverage shared resources more efficiently, particularly through participation in large-scale recycling studies that would be challenging to conduct alone. Additionally, the collective voice of the association has ensured that industry perspectives are heard in key regulatory discussions.

ORIENTATE subscribers can read the full interview in the January 2026 issue.

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Juho will also be presenting at AMI’s Biax Film 2026 conference on 3-5 March in Vienna, where he will be speaking on the recyclability of BOPA laminates in PE-waste streams, and offering a look at the latest APA polyamide recycling trials. Please click here for more information.