Mondi and Proquimia's dishwashing paper bag reduces CO2

Mondi and Proquimia have packaged dishwashing labels in paper stand-up pouches, with a product impact assessment showing that the packaging "significantly" reduces CO2 emissions compared to plastic alternatives.

The flexible pouches are made from Mondi's Recycled/Circular Functional Barrier Paper 95/5 and are sold in Spain and Portugal, designed to meet the recyclability requirements of both countries.

The entire package, including the zipper installed at the top of each bag for easy opening and closing, is said to contain more than 85% paper content, making it compatible with recycling streams in Spain and Portugal.

Mondi reports that they produce the recyclable StandUp Pouch in-house using kraft paper from responsible fibers; coating it to instill the necessary barrier properties; and then printing, cutting, and converting it into a final bag ready for filling and sealing.

Each bag contains 20 water-soluble dishwashing bags, designed to be securely held when standing upright. The bag is also said to offer "excellent" printing properties, providing branding opportunities and allowing product information to be displayed on the packaging.

According to an internal product impact assessment conducted by Mondi, which compared a 37% PCR mono PE stand-up bag to a paper bag, the latter was found to "significantly" reduce CO2 emissions from cradle to gate compared to plastic alternatives.

Alessandro D'Agostino, Business Development Manager for Home and Personal Care at Mondi, said: "Consumers across Europe are turning to household brands that adopt more sustainable packaging solutions. By working closely with our customers, we aim to strike a balance between resource efficiency and minimizing environmental impact to meet the needs of our customers and their end consumers. In line with our MAP2030 commitment, Mondi is actively working to create packaging solutions that keep valuable raw materials in circulation."

Cristina Arola Vilella, Packaging Manager at Proquimia, added: "The long-term goal is to introduce recyclable packaging across our entire portfolio and Mondi is the ideal partner to help us achieve this while maintaining the high quality standards that our customers and end-users expect. This collaboration reinforces Proquimia's commitment to sustainability, a value we have upheld since our founding, and we very much look forward to developing our partnership with Mondi."

Already in 2022, Mondi partnered with Reckitt to launch a 75% paper stand-up pouch for the Finish dishwasher detergent brand at French retailer Carrefour. Its paper is said to be responsibly sourced, with the remaining plastic used to strengthen the packaging's structure; meaning it is expected to produce 15% less CO2 over its entire lifecycle than previous packaging designs.

More recently, Korozo Group and Ecoplast helped develop flexible packaging for Henkel's laundry detergents, including its Persil brand. The mono-material film reportedly contains 30% post-consumer recycled content to comply with the now-formally adopted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations.

In other news, retail company Ocado is distributing its liquid detergent and fabric conditioner products in reusable bottles, aiming to reduce the amount of single-use plastics generated by consumers during their weekly shopping trips.