Mondi expands high-barrier paper production for sustainable packaging

Mondi has expanded production of FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate, a high-performance barrier paper targeting demanding packaging requirements, following its 16 million EUR investment in technology at its Solec plant in Poland.

The paper-based packaging offers protection against oxygen, water vapor and grease, with an oxygen transmission rate below 0.5 cm3/m2d and water vapor transmission rate below 0.5 g/m2d. According to Mondi's internal assessments, the material delivers substantially lower cradle-to-grave CO2 emissions compared to conventional multi-layer plastic or aluminum-based materials.

'FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate is the result of customer-driven innovation,' explained Dirk Gabriel, COO of consumer flexibles at Mondi. 'With this offering, we are helping brands to move away from multi-material packaging that is unrecyclable, without compromising on performance.'

As part of Mondi's re/cycle portfolio, FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate meets the company's internal Path to Circularity Scorecard criteria and is designed for recycling according to the Cepi Recyclability Laboratory Test Method and 4evergreen's Recycling Evaluation Protocol for recycling mills using conventional processes.

The material targets high barrier applications, including packaging for instant coffee sticks and pod overwraps, tea sachets, dried food seasonings, muesli or cereal bars and bouillon cubes, ensuring long shelf life and convenience.

Compatible with existing horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal packing lines, the paper-based packaging can be integrated into existing production processes without modification.

The product complements Mondi's range of FunctionalBarrier Papers, offering customers various barrier levels to suit individual product requirements and support circular economy goals while meeting changing regulatory requirements and consumer demand for sustainable packaging.

Gabriel noted that 87 percent of Mondi's packaging options are already reusable, recyclable or compostable as part of the company's MAP2030 sustainability commitments.