Mondi and ATS-Tanner have worked together to produce a recyclable paper band for individually labelled products or bundles, aiming to eradicate unnecessary plastic packaging in drink, fruit and vegetable, and e-commerce applications.
Mondi’s Advantage MF SpringPack kraft paper is converted into a TruePaper band by ATS-Tanner, with a functional barrier being applied to both sides of the paper. Sealed using ultrasound, the solution apparently negates the need to apply adhesives. As such, it anticipates the minimisation of packaging and reduction of waste, as well as claiming to ensure cost-efficiency for its customers.
The kraft paper – said to be produced from renewable, responsibly sourced, and certified materials – is reportedly capable of holding weights of up to 20kg, thus ensuring its compatibility with bundles and multipacks of various consumer goods. It also claims to retain high-quality print, which would allow for branding opportunities as well as product, return, and responsible waste management guidance to be displayed on-pack.
TruePaper is also recyclable in existing European paper recycling streams, the companies state, and fulfills Germany’s 95/5 ratio.
“By combining world-leading expertise in sustainable packaging with ATS-Tanner’s machinery and skills, we have together created a system that offers great product protection while reducing unnecessary plastic,” says Carsten Breiter, international key account manager Speciality Kraft Paper at Mondi. “This is the perfect example of strong collaboration producing a new solution that does just that.”
“We trialled various paper grades and Mondi’s kraft paper offers the required strength to substitute plastic packaging with this paper band,” adds Serge Tanner, owner and CEO of ATS-Tanner. “TruePaper is a resource efficient solution that can – depending on the banding machine used – wrap products measuring up to 1300 x 500 mm and is convenient to store.
“Using paper instead of plastic is not the only advantage: an ultrasonic banding machine from ATS-Tanner consumes 98% less energy than it would take to pack a like-sized delivery using a shrink wrapping machine.”
ATS-Tanner’s content manager Thomas Weber recently spoke to Packaging Europe regarding ultrasonic banding as a sustainable solution. He suggested that the direct delivery of energy into the materials being welded, rather than being transferred into heat energy, made for a more energy-efficient process with lower levels of heat loss.
Another recent development saw Mondi expand its FunctionalBarrier range of medium, high, and very high-barrier paper-based packaging to produce an alternative solution to unrecyclable plastic laminates and multi-material, aluminium-based packs.
Krones and DS Smith also collaborated last year to create a fibre-based shrink wrap alternative to package PET multipack bottles.
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