Mondi joins new alliance to promote circularity in construction paper bags

EUROPE – Mondi, a global leader in paper and packaging solutions, has taken a significant step toward advancing sustainability by co-founding a new initiative to improve the recycling of paper bags in the construction industry.

The alliance, called ‘Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain,’ brings together 12 European companies and is supported by key industry associations.

The Spain-based alliance includes companies from across the value chain. Industry groups like Eurosac, which represents the European multiwall paper sack industry, and the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI) host the collaboration.

Their mission is to close the loop on paper bag waste in the construction sector. They are starting with Spain but hope to create a model that can be scaled across Europe.

“This initiative demonstrates Mondi’s commitment to working with partners throughout the value chain to boost recycling rates for used paper bags,” said Carlos Martinez Ezquerra, Circular Economy Manager at Mondi Flexible Packaging.

“It creates a scalable approach that can be expanded throughout Europe and other industries, leading to reduced waste management costs, an increase in the recovery rate, and enhanced transparency and traceability in the circular economy. We are proud to be one of the founding members.”

Construction waste is a growing concern

Construction waste represents a significant portion of total waste in Spain, accounting for more than 30% of the country’s total waste generation, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute.

However, only 48% of this waste is recovered or recycled, highlighting the urgent need for improved waste management practices.

Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain seeks to address this issue by focusing on the recycling of paper bags used for construction materials, such as cement, plaster, and insulation.

The alliance will look for synergies with other construction and demolition waste types, aiming to increase the overall volume of recycled materials and make recycling more cost-effective.

Mondi and its partners believe that improving paper bag recycling can reduce environmental impact and offer economic benefits to the construction industry.

According to the company, separating construction waste for paper bag recycling could lower waste management costs and increase material recovery, further supporting Spain’s sustainability goals.

Mondi highlighted the role of Spain’s Arpada Group as an example of the alliance’s work in action.

The company is already making strides by efficiently separating construction waste to ensure paper bags are properly recycled.

Arpada is also developing more optimized waste management systems to handle construction materials more sustainably.

“Arpada’s efforts showcase the tangible impact this alliance can have in promoting a circular economy within the construction industry,” said a spokesperson from Mondi.

“By implementing better waste management systems, companies can significantly boost recycling rates and reduce their environmental footprint.”

As part of the next steps, Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain will set up working groups to explore various aspects of recycling and sustainability.

These groups will focus on process optimization, certification, traceability, and communication strategies to engage with industry stakeholders.

The alliance is also committed to sharing best practices and providing training to ensure that participating companies can effectively implement recycling strategies.

These initiatives are designed to improve recycling rates and encourage more companies in the construction industry to adopt circular economy principles.

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