Mondi and Thai Union launch recyclable tuna pouch for John West ready meals
Key takeaways
- Mondi has supplied Thai Union with a recyclable monomaterial PP pouch for John West Stir & Serve tuna ready meals in UK supermarkets.
- The pouch replaces the aluminum foil layer traditionally used in retort pouches while maintaining an 18-month shelf life at room temperature.
- Thai Union says the lightweight format supports convenience trends and will be rolled out across its branded portfolio in 2026, with more launches planned for 2027.
Mondi has equipped Thai Union, a seafood company, with a recyclable monomaterial pouch for its John West Stir & Serve ready-meal tuna product, available in UK supermarkets Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Asda, and Ocado.
Thai Union explains that the ready-meal and meal kit industry “continues to boom” across Europe as consumer demand for convenient formats grows. Earlier this year, Innova Market Insights identified ready-meal formats as a Top Packaging Trend for 2026.
“We’re seeing new consumer segments that are increasingly hungry for lighter, more convenient formats,” says Erwan Vilfeu, president for Ambient Branded at Thai Union Group.
“Stir & Serve proves that a recyclable pouch can deliver the shelf life and quality consumers expect, but in a format that opens new meal occasions with new recipes.”
The pouch is made from PP with “advanced” film technology that offers oxygen and moisture protection to keep the tuna shelf-stable for 18 months at room temperature. Thai Union explains that the solution replaces the aluminum foil layer that has “historically made retort pouches difficult to recycle.”
According to Thai Union, the pouch is also lightweight, with under 7 g of packaging material per 300 g of product. “That contributes to a smaller transport footprint, reducing fuel use and emissions across the supply chain,” states the global food producer.
Tuna developments
The John West Stir & Serve pouch is said to open easily and is positioned as a two-minute meal solution that can be stirred through pasta, rice, or noodles. The pouch will be rolled out across Thai Union’s branded portfolio throughout 2026, with additional launches planned for 2027.
Last month, Tetra Pak equipped Spanish seafood producer Jealsa with reportedly the first carton packaging for shelf-stable tuna. The Tetra Recart is said to offer a paper-based alternative to traditional metal cans used to package tuna.
