Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has collaborated with Austrian mechanical engineering company EW Technology to launch a new machine for paper pallet wrapping that is more efficient and sustainable on small-to-medium production lines. The two companies worked together to design the innovative machine, which fills a gap Mondi identified in the pallet wrapping market. Offering two settings, the machine can be fully automated to wrap up to 60 pallets every hour or semi-automated to wrap 10-15 pallets per hour. The machine takes a full reel of Mondi’s Advantage StretchWrap paper, allowing customers to replace the multi-layer plastic which is currently the industry standard for pallet wrapping. Advantage StretchWrap is 100% virgin paper, created with renewable materials and fully recyclable in existing paper waste streams across Europe. It contains no plastic or coating, but still ensures excellent strength and tension absorption.

In the world of bulk powdered goods such as building materials, chemicals and foodstuffs, different supply chains place differing demands on packaging. Additionally, the machinery used across the world to produce and fill the packaging consists of many different technologies, brands and models. This has resulted in the development and use of a variety of packaging solutions and processes. Therefore BillerudKorsnäs and Haver & Boecker, have developed a set of recommendations called the Sack Packaging Norms. Our employees at BillerudKorsnäs and Haver&Boecker, who are active all over the world, have noticed many repeated and unnecessary errors which result in packaging waste, product loss and environmental damage. Often, also, these errors are as a result of miscommunication or the use of different standards or practices. These errors are mostly easily fixed by applying some basic standard knowledge or practice. It was thought that the development of a ‘’common language’’ for the packaging value chain would be an effective way to ensure the elimination waste and efficient packaging performance around the world. “Globalization makes it essential to speak one language clearly and distinctly.

Mondi has commissioned and completed a life cycle assessment (LCA) for its ground-breaking paper-based Hug&Hold solution, to determine its environmental impact compared to that of conventional low-density polyethylene shrink wrap for six 1.5 litre PET beverage bottles. Hug&Hold is an innovative, sustainable and fully recyclable solution to replace plastic shrink wrap on the PET bottle bundle packs. It comprises two elements - a kraft paper sleeve to provide secure and safe transportation and a corrugated carrying handle that firmly holds the bottles around the neck, featuring an integrated handle for convenience and strength. The assessment shows that Hug&Hold has lower impacts in the categories of climate change, fossil resource use, photochemical ozone formation, acidification, ionising radiation, water use and eutrophication of freshwater. The overall carbon footprint is 43% lower than average LDPE virgin plastic shrink wrap and 15% lower than LDPE shrink wrap with 100% recycled content, meaning it can be recommended to reduce the climate change impacts of packaging while providing a strong solution for the customer and end user.