Mondi invests in ultra-high barrier paper-based packaging
Mondi is investing €16 million in new technology to produce a new packaging range called FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate.
The packaging and paper producer said the ultra-high barrier paper-based solution for food meets growing customer demand for sustainable packaging that contributes to a circular economy.
Mondi’s FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate range is designed to be recyclable in paper waste streams across Europe while providing the necessary product protection. The new addition expands Mondi’s existing portfolio of FunctionalBarrier Papers providing high-barrier paper-based packaging for food products such as dried foods and powdered milk. These products require packaging that offer protection from water vapour and oxygen and can ensure a long shelf life outside of the current industry standards of unrecyclable solutions made of plastic or lined with aluminium.
Initial trials of the FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate range have shown positive results for both customers and end consumers, indicating that the paper solution is widely accepted and preferred over unrecyclable aluminium and plastic-based alternatives, according to Mondi.
The investment at the Solec plant in Poland will enable Mondi to produce the high-barrier functional paper at scale using the latest technology and efficient processes.
Dirk Gabriel, COO consumer flexibles, Mondi, says the company has been focused on the aluminium barrier challenge for some time.
“We knew that with research, development and investment in new technologies, we would find an effective replacement that would provide the necessary protection for our customers’ food products. FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate helps our existing and new food producing customers to switch to a more sustainable packaging solution and thus contribute to their sustainability goals. It is a tangible example of our Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) commitment to making all our packaging solutions reusable, recyclable and compostable.”
Industrial scale production of the FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate range is expected in the first quarter of 2024.
