Mondi and Fresh!Packing develop kraft paper-based cooler bag for consumer convenience

20 Dec 2022 --- Mondi and Fresh!Packing have designed a cooler bag to protect and transport consumers’ chilled or frozen goods home. The Fresh!Bag outer layer is made from Mondi’s durable kraft paper, replacing the traditionally used unrecyclable, multi-material packaging while improving cooling protection by up to 2.5 times.

“Fresh!Bag provides a genuinely exciting opportunity for retailers. It responds to the consumer demand for more sustainable packaging while delivering convenience and durability for frozen and chilled goods,” says Alexander Baars, international sales manager Speciality Kraft Paper, Mondi. 

“Sometimes we need to ask different questions to develop new solutions – and by working closely with Fresh!Packing, we were able to create this innovative addition for the retail industry.” 

The Fresh!Bag outer layer is made from Mondi’s kraft and replaces unrecyclable, multi-material packaging.Reusable cooler bags 
Certified as fully recyclable in Europe’s existing paper waste streams, the bag’s cooling element is created using pulp, which is encased in Mondi’s kraft paper. The paper has a high stretchability, allowing easy sewing of the different layers to create a strong bag structure. Furthermore, the bag has a high resistance to tear allowing it to carry heavy weights and large-sized items.

Extra security and convenience for the consumer is provided by the handle on the Fresh!Bag, which loops within itself easily, forming an open seal.

The bags are durable and can be reused multiple times. Mondi’s kraft paper also gives retailers printable space for branding and messaging. Fresh!Bag recently won the German packaging award 2022 in the “Functionality & Convenience” category and Fresh!Packing now aims to launch the bag across Europe.

Kevin Hendzlik, general manager and Fresh!Bag product manager, Fresh!Packing adds: “Mondi trusted in our idea and brought a wealth of additional expertise to the table.”

“While developing Fresh!Bag, the team was able to easily identify the right opportunities and advise us throughout the process, helping us to achieve our sustainability goals of avoiding plastic waste and using material that contributes to a circular economy.” 

Mondi in the news 
In a similar development, Mondi collaborated with Modivo to provide it with paper-based fashion e-commerce packaging solutions. Modivo, a European online fashion retailer, switched from rigid plastic packaging to Mondi’s corrugated boxes and MailerBags.

Meanwhile, Mondi and Thimonnier launched a recyclable monomaterial berlingot sachet for liquid soap refills. The new packaging reduces plastic usage by more than 75% compared to rigid plastic bottles and was designed to replace the current industry standard of non-recyclable plastic with a lighter option. 

Edited by Natalie Schwertheim