UK – Mondi has collaborated with Welton, Bibby & Baron (WBB), a leading packaging supplier for the UK food and FMCG markets, to introduce recyclable paper-based bread bags to retail shelves.
These innovative bags, made from Mondi’s FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce, offer a sustainable solution for pre-packed fresh bread products.
Mondi’s new packaging comes in both white and brown options, crafted from strong base kraft paper produced using responsibly sourced fibers.
The paper is coated in-house to provide essential barrier properties that protect against water vapor, grease, and moisture while maintaining the strength needed to support heavier filling weights.
The FunctionalBarrier Paper Reduce is billed as the “thinnest paper possible” in Mondi’s barrier paper range, offering food-grade protection while ensuring recyclability.
Designed to keep bread fresh, soft, and moist, the new paper bags provide a recyclable alternative to the previously unrecyclable packaging used for bread. WBB has begun applying these eco-friendly bags to various fresh bread products.
Andrew Lockyear, Technical Manager at Welton Bibby & Baron, praised the collaboration, “Working closely with Mondi’s team gave us access to extensive expertise, allowing us to deliver this remarkable result in a short time frame.
“As we look ahead to potential regulatory changes, we’ll continue working with Mondi to enhance sustainability solutions further.”
The packaging also prioritizes consumer convenience and appearance. Both the white and brown bags feature a clear window, allowing consumers to view the bread while supporting recyclability easily.
The brown bag has a glassine window, which can be recycled alongside the bag in the paper bin. The white bag includes a detachable film window that can be separated and recycled in appropriate bins.
These bags have earned a recycling label from the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) Scheme and are eligible for curbside collection across the UK, supporting broader recycling efforts.
Mick Robinson, Business Solutions Manager for Functional Paper and Films at Mondi, emphasized its commitment to sustainable packaging through their MAP2030 goals.
“We are dedicated to developing circular packaging options that meet our customers’ demands for more sustainable and convenient solutions,” Robinson said.
“Long-term partnerships like this allow us to help brands and retailers achieve their sustainability targets.”
This innovation adds to the growing trend of paper-based packaging solutions. In a related development, Sonoco has launched fully recyclable packaging for plant-based food products, incorporating its EnviroCan paper bottom.
This bottom provides an oxygen and moisture barrier to maintain food safety and shelf life and is also curbside recyclable.
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