Mondi, Biedronka launch Recyklobox corrugated container to streamline bottle collection in Poland

POLAND – Mondi and Polish supermarket chain Biedronka have launched Recyklobox, a five-layer corrugated board container with a lower collection compartment, a specialised lid for bottle insertion, and a custom fitting for scanner installations, helping the retailer collect more than 29 million returnable bottles by the end of last month.

The product contains 80 percent recycled paper and 20 percent fresh fibre, designed for full reprocessing at the end of its lifecycle. 

The primary advantages of the solution are its simplicity and ease of implementation, allowing swift rollout across various retail sites. 

By deploying these units ahead of the installation of automated reverse vending machines, Biedronka ensured early readiness and operational continuity.

Why Corrugated Instead of Plastic Bins

Returnable bottle collection points in supermarkets are typically serviced by rigid plastic bins or roll cages that require lining, labelling, and cleaning. Corrugated board offers a lightweight, collapsible, and recyclable alternative. 

The five-layer construction provides the structural strength needed to hold large volumes of filled glass and PET bottles without tearing or collapsing. 

At end-of-life, the Recyklobox enters standard paper recycling streams, recovering the 80 percent recycled fibre content for new paper products.

Bridge to Automated Systems

Automated reverse vending machines require capital investment, installation lead times, and dedicated floor space. 

The Recyklobox allows Biedronka to start collecting returnable bottles immediately, building consumer habits before machines arrive. 

For retailers, this hybrid approach, manual collection using engineered corrugated units, transitioning to automated RVMs over time, reduces upfront cost and deployment risk.

Mateusz Buchowiecki, Mondi national key account manager, explained that at Mondi, the company aims to develop solutions that go beyond packaging and support the evolving needs of modern retail, adding that Recyklobox combines functionality, sustainability, and rapid implementation.

The Circularity of the Box Itself

The 80/20 ratio of recycled to fresh fibre balances strength (fresh fibre provides structural integrity) with recycled content (reducing virgin material demand). 

Because the Recyklobox is made from paper rather than plastic, it does not require washing after use and can be flattened for transport to recycling facilities. 

The project builds on a long-standing partnership between Mondi and Biedronka, including a joint closed-loop programme to advance sustainable retail models in Poland.

When the Collection Bin Is Also a Recycling Story

Twenty-nine million bottles returned is the headline. But the box they were returned in—80 percent recycled paper, fully recyclable, engineered to hold heavy glass bottles without failing, is the enabling technology. 

Mondi and Biedronka have proved that the collection point can be as circular as the bottle.

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