Paper bag developed for Irish spuds

Mondi has partnered with SILBO, a Polish producer of compostable packaging, to create a paper-based, high-strength packaging for the Irish farm potato business Meade Farm Group.

The bags needed to withstand very heavy weights, while providing a solution that is kinder to the planet, said Jan Murzyn, Extrusion Solutions & Speciality Kraft Paper Sales Manager Poland, Mondi.

Working closely for two years, SILBO, Meade and Mondi developed the FSC-certified bag using specialty kraft paper to ensure strength in handling while providing barrier properties to keep the produce fresh. The bag’s sustainability features include: a corn starch-based netting for a small cut-out window, water-based ink and Mondi’s biodegradable Sustainex coating, which provides heat sealing and moisture barrier protection.

The packaging has been launched across Ireland, Poland, France and Germany, winning the silver Fruit Logistica Innovation Award. The new solution helps Meade to achieve its sustainability goals: using packaging that is reusable, recyclable, renewable or compostable wherever possible.

“The hybrid solution combines the excellent strength of specialty kraft paper and the tailor-made barrier and heat-sealing properties of compostable materials,” explained Marcin Śpiewok, SILBO Business Development Manager. “Mondi’s specialty kraft paper in combination with our net, water-based print and unique technology was a long-sought solution in the food industry and allowed us to substitute the conventional combination of plastic and mesh.”

The compostable form-fill-and-seal potato bag with net window has been designed to deliver strong, durable, breathable, eco-friendly packaging for Meade.

Jeni Meade, Sustainability Manager at Meade, added: “By changing from the previous plastic pillow pack to this bag, we completely eliminated hard-to-recycle plastic. Additionally, when compared to a traditional block bottom paper bag of similar size, our compostable paper pillow pack reduces the paper usage by 34%.”

Image credit: Mondi