Metsä Group’s innovation company, Metsä Spring, has introduced new punnet products as part of its Muoto Uncoated Fibre Series, featuring two punnet sizes designed for berries, fruits, and vegetables.
The punnets are due to be ready for market testing starting from January 2026. According to a market study conducted by Muoto, in Europe, the overall packaging unit volume for fresh products is ‘billions of units’ annually, with berries such as strawberries, blueberries and raspberries require billions of packaging units every year. Metsä Spring hopes that by replacing the current plastic packaging with products such as its Muoto punnets, the industry can decrease the volume of single-use plastics.
Made from renewable wood pulp, Muoto is said to be fully recyclable and biodegradable. The technology applied in Muoto products converts wet wood pulp into 3-dimensional packages without any intermediate steps.
Metsä Spring says this results in a low carbon footprint, reducing the steps needed to ship the products to end customers. The company adds that Muoto is lightweight, strong and can be easily moulded into different shapes.
“We welcome packers to join our pre-commercial sales phase to test and co-develop the right solution for their needs. Our Muoto punnets are durable, plastic-free, and meet the strict requirements of the upcoming PPWR regulation,” says Tarja Heikkilä, product manager at Muoto.
Earlier this year, Metsä Group combined its Muoto moulded fibre-based packaging solution with Amcor’s film liners, aiming to create laminated bio-based trays for food packaging applications including modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). By integrating Amcor’s laminated film and lidding technology, Muoto apparently delivers enhanced functionality, high-performance sealability and extended shelf life.
In other food packaging news, Mondi teamed up with Turkish fresh fruit and vegetable exporter Özler Tarım on a corrugated fibre solution aiming to reduce food waste, protect products and optimize operational processes. The new packaging features a double-wall corrugated fibre structure and a flat-stackable design.
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