Recyclable packaging solution for dry soup powder range

Consumer packaging company Mondi Kalenobel has collaborated with Unilever to produce a polypropylene (PP) mono-material solution in Turkey for its Knorr dry soup powder range. Unilever sought to replace a multi-material laminate with a recyclable mono-material film alternative. The polypropylene packaging preserves the shelf life of the food product and does not impact the function of production machines.

Designed by Jindal, the packaging material is certified as recyclable by the Institut cyclos-HTP. Mondi and Unilever collaborated to find a suitable grade of special raw material, with Mondi providing support during the design and implementation process.

“The challenge for us was getting the necessary oxygen and water vapour barriers and all other physical and chemical tolerances with the new mono-material at the same level as the current non-recyclable packaging. We also needed to offer a solution that could use the same production machine at Unilever’s production sites,” said Cüneyt Karci, Key Account Manager at Mondi Kalenobel.

Image credit: Mondi, PR140. For a clearer image, click here.

“The most important step in eliminating plastic waste is preventing it getting into the environment in the first place. That’s why we are committed to collecting and processing more plastic packaging than we sell by 2025. Solutions from innovative partners throughout the value chain, such as Mondi, will help us on this journey,” said Atahan Özgünay, R&D Package Development Manager for Unilever’s Knorr and Lipton brands in North Africa, Middle East, Turkey and Russia.

With the new packaging solution introduced to the Turkish market for a dry soup powder range, Unilever is considering an expansion of the packaging solution to other products from the Knorr brand.