“Paper’s coming back”: Mondi and Rovema debut recyclable pillow bag for frozen food at FachPack

29 Sep 2021 --- Paper packaging specialist Mondi and machine manufacturer Rovema are unveiling a new food-grade pillow bag at FachPack 2021, hosted in Nuremberg, Germany. 

“Here at the show, we are targeting frozen food and fresh produce [applications],” says Ingo Hamel, head of innovation and R&D at Rovema, “but it can be for others.”

“The pillow bag also offers applications in industrial and e-commerce,” adds Dr. Silvia Hanzelova, industry group manager functional papers at Mondi.

“We see big potential in the coming years replacing plastic packaging with more sustainable paper solutions.” 

No easy switch?
Speaking from the show floor with PackagingInsights, Hanzelova and Hamel also discuss some of the challenges of switching from plastic bags to paper alternatives.

The continuous motion inno-tech REVO S machine creates the pillow bags made with Mondi’s kraft paper.“This doesn’t just mean putting a new material on the machine. You need to look at the whole supply chain to ensure paper can withstand the stresses of wetness, moisture and cold environments.” 

Tests on travel durability and shelf life performance need to be taken into consideration, says Hamel. “And finally, it has to work on the machine.” 

Inno-tech REVO S
In terms of the runnability of Mondi’s paper on Rovema’s machine, Hanzelova highlights her company enjoyed a “very good collaboration with Rovema.” 

The continuous, modular Form Fill and Seal machines in the REVO series are available from a simple version for small budgets up to a special machine with an inclined filling tube for the particularly gentle packaging of fragile products. Convertible to continuous or intermittent motion packaging, the inno-tech REVO can also reliably process demanding packaging materials such as paper. 

“We received good feedback on how the material performs on the machine and how to finetune this further. For the process and applications, you need a certain type of barrier that has good mechanical strength. That is something that Mondi paper can offer together with our special coating,” Hanzelova details.

By employing a “very thin layer of polymer material,” Mondi can ensure an optimal mechanical and sealing performance, while guaranteeing material recyclability on standard paper recycling streams.

Rovema’s continuous motion inno-tech REVO S machine processes Mondi’s fully recyclable barrier paper into pillow bags.Demand for paper-based
There will be “more and more” scope for this product’s commercialization, Hanzelova predicts, discussing future demand for paper-based packaging. “It’s not just packaging suppliers, but it is also due to consumer demand, they are asking more for paper-based packaging.” 

Ahead of its FachPack exhibition, Mondi recently equipped HKScan with paper-based sausage packs in a Swedish recyclability boost.

Innova Market Insights notes a general rise in paper-based packaging solutions as more stringent plastics regulations come into play, marking “Fiber-based Frenzy” a top trend for 2021.

According to the market analyst’s data, 71% of global consumers view paper as performing well or excellently when it comes to ease of opening, followed by 71% and 45% saying the same about its recyclability and product protection, respectively.

“We see this demand as well,” Hamel echoes. “We are quite strong with our Rovema test center. We do more than 150 tests per year with alternative sustainable materials alone, not including the other tests.” 

“We have a 60-year company history in bag making materials. Paper is coming back,” he concludes. “And we know how to process it.” 

By Anni Schleicher, reporting from FachPack 2021 in Nuremberg, Germany