Introduction of water-resistant paper bags for the Australian cement industry by Adbri Ltd, Pope Packaging and Mondi

Press release
4 October, 2020
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  • Mondi’s new Advantage Protect White sack kraft paper bag launches in Australia
  • The new packaging solution aims to deliver cost savings across the building and construction industry, by reducing damaged product and waste
  • This innovation has led to Adelaide Brighton Cement, an Adbri Ltd Company, to convert all of their paper bags for cement and hydrated lime, to the new water-resistant bags

Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, has partnered with Adelaide Brighton Cement and Pope Packaging on the development of a new water-resistant paper bag called ‘Rain Barrier,’ made out of Mondi’s Advantage Protect White sack kraft paper, for the Australian construction market.

Standout characteristics include its water repellent surface and high tensile strength in a wet environment. While a standard paper bag absorbs water, the qualities of the Rain Barrier bag, keeps water from seeping in, as it stays on the surface where it evaporates. The paper itself is rain resistant for up to six hours and can resist water ingress for up to five full days when stored in damp conditions.

After being actively involved in testing and developing the new product, Adelaide Brighton Cement, one of Australia’s leading producers of cement, hydrated lime and packaged products, is the first business in the country to market the new innovative product. The business is in the process of converting all of their cement and hydrated lime paper bags, manufactured in South Australia and the Northern Territory, across to Rain Barrier bags.

Applying Mondi's customer-centric EcoSolutions approach, Mondi focused on Adelaide Brighton Cement and Pope Packaging's goal to provide a more functional and sustainable packaging solution.

We’re pleased to be partnering with both Pope Packaging and Mondi, to launch this innovative packaging solution to the market. This partnership has allowed us to provide our customers and end users with additional value and packaging improvements, that help reduce common industry issues like damaged product and waste due to moisture ingress.

Matthew Sullivan, General Manager, Pope Packaging for Papersacks, said: “Until the introduction of Advantage Protect and Advantage Protect White in our bag construction, water damage to bagged cement remained a problem on building sites exposed to weather or damp. Our Rain Barrier bag offers an unbeatable combination of water resistance in a paper bag, which is less costly and has higher filling speeds than the non-paper alternative.”

“The new water-resistant paper bags fill just as fast as traditional paper bags and can be filled on existing machinery – so no new investment is needed on the part of the cement companies. They are also made from a renewable natural material, which is part of Mondi’s EcoSolutions approach to provide the most sustainable solution for its customers. We’re delighted to have helped make a paper bag solution available in Australia,” said Gerry Gosen, Head of Sales Region Asia Pacific Sack Kraft Paper at Mondi.

Contact

Waltraud Seiner, Head of Marketing and Communication
Mondi Corrugated Packaging
Tel: +43 1 79013 4754
Email: Waltraud.Seiner@mondigroup.com

About Mondi

Mondi is a global leader in packaging and paper, contributing to a better world by making innovative packaging and paper solutions that are sustainable by design. Our business is fully integrated across the value chain – from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films to developing and manufacturing effective industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Sustainability is at the centre of our strategy and intrinsic in the way we do business. We lead the industry with our customer- centric approach, EcoSolutions, where we ask the right questions to find the most sustainable solution. In 2019, Mondi had revenues of €7.27 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.66 billion.

Mondi has a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange (MNDI), and a secondary listing on the JSE Limited (MNP). Mondi is a FTSE 100 constituent, and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series since 2007.