Mondi announces 10-year sustainability action plan, delivers EcoSolutions for vegan taco range

29 Jan 2021 --- Mondi is announcing its ten year sustainability action plan – MAP2030 – taking action on three key areas: circular-driven packaging and paper solutions, “created by empowered people,” and combating climate change.

All areas are aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of Mondi’s focus on sustainability by design.

The consumer packaging giant most recently demonstrated its circular-driven packaging and paper solutions for Orkla’s new Frankful plant-based Tex Mex range – soft tortilla wraps, tortilla crisps and taco spices.

The three Frankful products benefit from tailor-made recyclable packaging that extends shelf life and balances portion control.

“Our aim is to work closely with our valued partners through our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, to create sustainable packaging that works for the products, the customer and the environment,” outlines Thomas Kahl, Mondi EcoSolutions project manager.Mondi is taking action on three key areas: circular-driven packaging and paper solutions, empowered people and climate change.

“The challenge with Frankful was to find a solution that would ensure recyclable packaging materials while offering the required functionalities such as barrier protection, and still run on the existing machines at full speed.”

Paper where possible, plastic when useful
The taco spice mix is packaged in a paper-based laminate, created from FSC-certified paper and a film made from renewable resources. The high paper content ensures suitability for Swedish recycling paper streams.

Meanwhile, the soft tortillas became one of the first food products packaged in Mondi’s landmark BarrierPack Recyclable solution, which uses a high-barrier, lightweight mono-material and reclose tape to keep the food fresh in its original packaging.

Moreover, the tortilla crisps are kept crunchy and fresh using Mondi’s metal-free high-barrier laminate, making the new solution completely recyclable. It eradicates the need to include a metalized layer while retaining the crispness and avoiding grease leakage.

In other news, Mondi is acquiring Olmuksan, a leading Turkish corrugated packaging producer, from International Paper. The acquisition expands Mondi’s presence in the region, generating operational improvements and paper integration upside.

Mondi also teamed up with Italian rice producer Riseria Vignola Giovanni and packaging converter Fiorini to bring recyclable paper packaging to the European rice market.Mondi demonstrated its circular-driven packaging and paper solutions with Orkla’s new Frankful plant-based Tex Mex range – soft tortilla wraps, tortilla crisps and taco spices.

Targets underpinning MAP2030
Each action area of MAP2030 has three commitments underpinned by targets and KPIs.

• Circular driven solutions – Mondi is making innovative packaging and paper solutions, keeping materials in circulation and preventing waste. The strategy includes a target to make 100 percent of its products reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
• Created by empowered people – The supplier is developing an “empowered and inclusive team who can contribute to a better world.” A key target is to increase female representation across all levels at Mondi from 21 percent to at least 30 percent by 2030. This requires four in ten hires to be women throughout the next decade.
• Taking action on Climate – The company is also focusing on climate resilience through its forests and operations for the planet’s future. Targets include reducing its greenhouse gas emissions in line with science-based targets and maintaining zero deforestation in its wood supply as its business grows.

Mondi indicates each focus area has targets to guide action, including work on human rights due diligence, ongoing investment in communities, 100 percent of wood fiber compliant with credible standards, and detailed air emission and water targets to minimize our environmental impact.

The plan builds on Mondi's existing sustainability progress, which saw the company move to science-based targets for scope 1 and 2 emissions.

Leading light on climate action
Mondi has reduced its CO2 emissions by 45 percent since 2004 and was recognized in 2020 by CDP – an international non-profit helping companies and cities disclose their environmental impact – as one of only ten companies worldwide with a “Triple A” score on its environmental performance related to climate, forests and water security.

“Our 2030 commitments build on our previous achievements and align with the UN’s SDG timeframe. Mondi has made a number of strategic sustainability-related investments across its operations in recent years and has invested more than €700 million (US$848 million) in modernizing energy plants and improving energy efficiency since 2013,” notes Gladys Naylor, group head of sustainable development at Mondi.

“Over the last five years, we have invested more than €50 million (US$61 million) in local community initiatives and will continue to provide a similar level of support going forward. We have also set aside a quarter of our forestry landholdings for conservation and the protection of biodiversity and achieved a 100 percent certification in our own forest landholdings.”

“MAP2030 will help us to monitor, improve and communicate our performance. Over the next decade, we will focus on the three action areas where we can make the most impact and drive real change toward a more sustainable future,” Naylor concludes.

By Joshua Poole