Mondi and Proquimia have packaged dishwashing tabs in paper-based stand-up pouches, with a product impact assessment suggesting the packaging ‘significantly’ lowers CO2 emissions compared to its plastic alternative.
Sold in Spain and Portugal, the flexible pouch is made of Mondi’s re/cycle Functional Barrier Paper 95/5 and is designed to meet the recyclability requirements of both countries.
The entire pack – including a zipper implemented across the top of each pouch for easy opening and closing – is said to contain an over 85% share of paper, which makes it compatible with Spanish and Portuguese recycling streams.
Mondi reports that it manufactures the re/cycle StandUpPouch in-house by making the kraft paper from responsibly sourced fibres; coating it to instill the necessary barrier properties; then printing, slitting, and converting it to the final pouch in preparation for filling and sealing.
Each pouch carries twenty water-soluble dishwashing tabs and is designed to hold them securely while standing upright. The pack is also said to provide ‘excellent’ printing properties, providing branding opportunities and allowing product information to be displayed on-pack.
According to an internal product impact assessment conducted by Mondi, in which a 37% PCR mono-PE stand-up pouch was compared with a paper-based pouch, the latter was found to ‘significantly’ cut down on CO2 emissions from cradle to gate compared to the plastic alternative.
In collaborating on the pack, Mondi and Proquimia aim to take steps towards their respective sustainability goals.
“Consumers across Europe are switching to household brands that have adopted a more sustainable packaging solution,” says Alessandro D’Agostino, business development manager for Home & Personal Care at Mondi. “By closely collaborating with our customers, we aim to balance resource efficiency with the lowest possible environmental impact, meeting the demands of our customers and their end-consumers alike.
“In line with our MAP2030 commitments, Mondi is actively working towards creating packaging solutions that keep valuable raw materials in circulation.”
Cristina Arola Vilella, Packaging Manager at Proquimia, adds: “The long-term aim is to introduce recyclable packaging throughout our entire portfolio and Mondi is the ideal partner to help us do this, while maintaining the high standards of quality that our customers and end users expect. This collaboration strengthens Proquimia’s commitment to sustainability, a value we have upheld since our beginning: we’re really looking forward to developing our working relationship with Mondi.”
All the way back in 2022, Mondi collaborated with Reckitt to debut a 75% paper stand-up pouch for the Finish dishwasher detergent brand at French retailer Carrefour. Its paper was said to be responsibly sourced, with the remaining plastic used to strengthen the pack’s structure; this meant it was expected to generate 15% less CO2 throughout its life cycle than previous packaging designs.
More recently, Korozo Group and Ecoplast helped develop a flexible pack for Henkel’s laundry detergents, including its Persil brand. The mono-material films reportedly contain 30% post-consumer recyclate to align with the now-formally-adopted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
In other news, Ocado Retail is distributing liquid detergent and fabric conditioner products in reusable bottles, aiming to lower the amount of single-use plastics generated in consumers’ weekly shops.
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