Not like composite packaging options that mix two or extra materials sorts (assume aluminum-lined paper-based wrapping for brie, or the multi-layer movie on sliced cheese packs), mono-material-based packaging has nearly zero obstacles to recycling. It’s because it’s made from a single materials, so recyclers don’t must separate the liner from the paperboard, for instance.
Packaging producer Mondi has lately provide you with a mono-material polypropylene-based packaging that gives excessive oxygen and water vapor barrier to make sure freshness. Comprising mono-material base, net and lidding movie made from polypropylene (PP), the packaging is produced and printed by Mondi earlier than being transformed for 1kg and 2kg blocks of Hushållsost cheese made by Skånemejerier and offered as a private-label product by Swedish grocery store ICA. Nevertheless, the packaging is appropriate for a variety of onerous and semi-soft cheeses, or different food-grade functions, we have been informed.
“This resolution might be used for any cheese or different functions, kind of,” defined Helene Brynell, Regional Gross sales Nordic Client Flexibles at Mondi. “It is likely to be really helpful to vary the thickness or different particulars within the formulation relying on, for instance, barrier wants, form of the product and manufacturing machines. However a mono PP is appropriate for a lot of completely different functions within the meals business and non-food business. That’s what makes it so incredible.”
The problem for Mondi was to develop a mono-material packaging that would correctly shield the product inside, offering appropriate barrier properties in opposition to oxygen and water vapors to maintain the cheese recent on the shelf. “The packaging has to guard the product whereas providing a extra sustainable resolution,” Brynell stated. “By means of the mono-material construction the packaging is designed for recycling, aiming to maintain the packaging supplies in circulation.”
The plastic beforehand used for this cheese had beforehand been non-recyclable, a Skånemejerier spokesperson confirmed for DairyReporter.
Ingemar Jönsson, Packaging Supervisor at Skånemejerier, added: “Our collaboration with Mondi has been an intensive course of: we began our first check and trials in 2019 and are delighted to be bringing this absolutely recyclable packaging to market earlier than the tip of 2023. The nice working relationship we had, meant that we have been capable of adapt supplies and equipment effectively, leading to a profitable, match for objective resolution. Now we have robust, efficient and handsome packaging that retains supplies within the loop and responds to shopper calls for for extra sustainable options.”
The discharge of the brand new packaging coincides with the opening of a brand new recycling facility, Web site Zero, the place used plastic from throughout each Sweden and Finland will probably be processed. Brynell defined: “Because of the mono-material design, Web site Zero will be capable to successfully kind the answer for recycling, working in the direction of a round economic system.”
Rickard Jansson, Improvement Engineer at Swedish Plastic Recyclin, added: “We’re very optimistic in regards to the new packaging that Mondi has developed along with Skånemejerier for ICA. Through the use of mono-material movie as an alternative of laminate consisting of several types of plastic, we are able to kind out and recycle the packaging that’s left within the system, thus avoiding incineration. With Web site Zero’s new know-how, this PP film-based packaging will be capable to turn out to be new merchandise, which has not been doable in any facility in Sweden earlier than. It offers round plastic flows that cut back the necessity for fossil uncooked supplies and combustion.”
Mondi’s new packaging additionally gained the 2023 PackNorth Award within the meals class and was acknowledged on the Empack tradeshow in October in Stockholm, Sweden.
