Mondi and Fiorini International develop recyclable paper packaging for premium pasta
Mondi and Fiorini International have created and launched a new fully recyclable paper packaging for a premium Italian pasta brand.
Following a complete overhaul of its packaging design, Antico Pastificio Umbro decided to combine the expertise of Mondi and Fiorini International to design and produce a paper bag with a viewing window for its premium pasta ranges. After the complete roll out, this new packaging solution will support the company’s sustainability goal of reducing plastic by saving up to 20 tonnes of plastic per year.
The successful partnership between Mondi and Fiorini International has resulted in a paper bag design with a large window made of transparent, recyclable and biodegradable cellulose that allows the end-user to see the contents.
Thanks to the paper selected by Mondi and Fiorini International, the bag is fully recyclable while offering the same protective properties as the previous plastic packaging.
The pasta has the same shelf life and is kept safe during transport. A new closure system sealed with a special food contact hot-melt glue, together with a reinforced patch on the bottom, improves hygiene and ensures easy opening.
Made from renewable resources, the packaging can be easily disposed of by consumers in existing paper waste streams. The high paper recycling rates in Europe of over 80% mean that paper that has reached the end of its life can contribute to a circular economy. The new pasta bag offers superior printability so that all brand and product messages can be communicated effectively and it has great runnability on filling machines.
The groundbreaking packaging was included in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Upstream Innovation Guide to Packaging Solutions, published in November 2021. It was also part of The Waste Age Exhibition, hosted by the London Design Museum and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which was open to the public between October 2021 and February 2022. Here it was recognised as an innovative example of substitution for better recyclability, an approach that is in line with the Foundation’s vision for a circular economy for plastics.
Massimiliano Scottà, head of sales region South & America Kraft Paper, Mondi said used a customer-centric EcoSolutions approach helped develop the recyclable packaging while working closely with Fiorini International and Antico Pastificio Umbro. This is a great example of best practice in creating packaging that keeps materials in circulation and contributes to Mondi’s MAP2030 sustainability target to make 100% of its products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.”
Pietro Fiorini, sales director packaging division at Fiorini International, said ethical and environmental responsibility, research on market trends, innovative technologies and a qualified manufacturing system, have been key.
“We designed, together with Mondi, the best performing paper solution for the pasta bag. We are proud to be part of a sustainable mission and we know that this requires a systematic and cooperative approach among stakeholders in the supply chains, from producer to consumer. This includes involving consumers in initiatives to raise awareness of sustainable consumption and lifestyles, providing them with appropriate information about packaging..”
Leonardo Faccendini, CEO Antico Pastificio Umbro, concluded: “Reducing the environmental impact of our products – their manufacture, packaging and transport – is a top priority for us as a company, and replacing traditional plastic packaging with paper is a major step towards achieving this goal. We are investing in new systems and a plant and are plan to roll out this plastic-free packaging across our entire pasta range.”
