Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has collaborated with Essity and Dow to create new, recyclable secondary packaging for Essity’s feminine care products. Their goal was to decrease the use of virgin plastic of fossil origin by using renewable or post-consumer recycled materials.
A extruded film with a lower environmental footprint
Essity’s feminine care towels were previously packed in bags that already used 50% renewable materials. However, additional research and testing by Mondi, resulted in the recommendation of a new solution that aligns with Essity’s packaging goals: to work towards 100% recyclability and to use up to 85% biomass, renewable or recycled material in all bags.
The new packaging contributes to these sustainability goals by using a renewable material and by-product from the paper making industry that is produced from circular feedstock based on the ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) mass balance approach.
The new packaging also contains a mechanically recycled plastic resin from post-consumer material. To that end, Mondi worked with Dow and other companies along the value chain to find the most suitable resin formulation for this solution.
The end result is an extruded film that is printed on and converted into a bag.
Same level of protection
The new packaging provides the same high-level of protection as the previous solution, preventing the feminine care range from moisture and light that could damage it.
According to Mondi, the new solution has strong sealing properties and delivers outstanding print quality to maintain on-shelf appeal for Essity’s European brands, such as Bodyform, Libresse, Nana and Nuvenia.
“The challenge was to find the best combination of renewable and recycled content that maintains product quality and the production efficiency already enjoyed by Essity. We tested several options until we found the most suitable solution. Working in collaboration with Essity and Dow validates our EcoSolutions approach; we go back to the start and ask the right questions to ensure we create the best possible solution for our customers,” said Marjo Kuisma, Regional Sales Consumer Flexibles, Mondi.
For Guosheng Zhang, Global Technical Innovation Manager Feminine Care at Essity, the new packaging solution - with its reduced carbon footprint - demonstrates the group’s commitment to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: to work towards full recyclability and to increase the use of recycled plastic in our packaging. “The end result is eye-catching, well designed and makes a positive impact on the environment,” he concluded.
