Mondi has co-founded Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain, a twelve-company alliance focused on improving the circularity of used paper bags in the Spanish construction industry.
Over 30% of the total waste generated in Spain is attributed to the construction industry in the latest report from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), while the recovery rate is placed at 48%.
In response, Paper Sacks Go Circular Spain plans to find synergies between construction and demolition waste streams to increase volumes and pursue economies of scale. It will start with paper bags for construction materials, including cement, plaster, and insulation – aiming to raise their recycling rates, keep fresh fibres in circulation, balance sustainability with economic aspects, and improve the industry’s overall business model.
Industry associations Eurosac and CEPI Eurokraft will host the alliance. Going forward, the companies will prioritize process optimization, traceability, and certification, as well as training, best practices, communication, and synergies with other waste materials in the construction industry.
“This initiative demonstrates Mondi’s commitment to collaborating with industry partners across the value chain to increase recycling rates for used paper bags,” says Carlos Martinez Ezquerra, circular economy manager at Mondi Flexible Packaging. “It creates a scalable approach for the rest of Europe and other industries, leading to a reduction in waste management costs, a significant increase in the valorization rate, and supports transparency and traceability of the circular economy. We are proud to be one of the founding initiators.”
Back in June, the alliance hosted Construction Goes Circular, a webinar with over 80 industry participants. It introduced the initiative and explained the roles and responsibilities within the value chain.
Among the topics discussed were fostering relationships between participants, applying the circular model to other construction materials, and encouraging industry players to become alliance members.
The Arpada Group is already separating its construction waste to recycle paper bags, Mondi says, and is working with the alliance to optimize its waste management systems.
Other construction industry players are encouraged to contact CoCircular for more information about the alliance.
Mondi previously posed another solution for the construction industry – SolmixBag, a one-ply paper bag made from 100% kraft paper and intended to package dry cement, screed, and coarse pre-mixes. Developed in collaboration with Cemex, the solution claims to disintegrate and dissolve during the cement mixing process, thus cutting down on packaging waste.
Other alliances have formed this year in order to drive change in the packaging industry. Consumer goods startup Share joined Interseroh+’s Recycling Alliance, which intends to help participants close their raw material loops; and the Alliance for Sustainable Packaging for Foods, a coalition of non-profit industry and non-governmental organizations, seeks to work with international governments on improved food packaging regulation.
Most recently, the International Alliance for Food Impact Data was recently founded by Foundation Earth and EIT Food to set international standards for the environmental scoring of food and drinks.
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