Mondi, along with cheese packaging company Hazeleger Kaas and brand owner Westland Kaas, has worked to package Maaslander cheese in EnvelopeForm, a new recyclable mono-material packaging solution made from polypropylene (PP).
Most sliced cheese in the Netherlands is still packaged in mixed material film, which is difficult to recycle. This new packaging has a PP thermoforming top and bottom web, and a PP label instead of a paper label, so that it can technically be recycled in its entirety. The solution has been certified as recyclable by the German institute cyclos-HTP.
Andre Roeterdink, procurement manager of Hazeleger Kaas, says: “When we began the search for a new sustainable solution in 2018, our standards were already very high. In order for our cheese to stay fresh, the packaging had to have the same level of barrier protection as the previous film, and at a lighter weight.
“Mondi worked very closely with us to trial and test the best packaging solutions. Ultimately, the lighter film and improved product to packaging ratio meant we could reduce the amount of plastic used by 23%. This makes it possible for us to save 9.2 tonnes of plastic per year.”
“Using our customer-centric approach, EcoSolutions, we knew that we could help Hazeleger find the optimal sustainable solution for their cheese,” adds Peter Jagt, regional sales for consumer flexibles, BeNeLux at Mondi.
“The new mono-material film is recyclable, performs well on their machines, and keeps the cheese slices fresh on shelves. This, along with our commitment to quality, made it possible to provide Hazeleger with a sustainable new solution.”
