The invention relates to a polymer-coated Polymer-coated heat-sealable packaging material, heat-sterilized package formed from the material, and use of the packaging material. The material comprises a fiber base 4 (e.g., packaging board made of bleached pulp) with polymer heat-seal layers 1,9 located on both sides thereof. The package comprises, outside the fiber base, first polymer coating layer 2, which contains white pigment for covering the fiber base from sight, and second coating layer 8, which contains light-absorbing pigment. A coating layer pigmented grey inside the fiber base may provide a light shield for the packaged product. Absorbent black pigment may be located outside the fiber base underneath the white layer to stabilize the brightness of the material. A heat-sterilized package is made by providing the packaging material, forming a package containing, e.g., food, and heat-sterilizing the package in an autoclave. Yellowing of the fiber-based material is avoided by means of a white pigment.