Iceland freezes use of unnecessary plastic with launch of paper packaging from Mondi

Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has teamed up with the UK’s number 1 frozen food retailer to provide renewable, recyclable packaging in a move that further validates Mondi’s approach of using “paper where possible, plastic when useful”.

Iceland is replacing its previous packaging with Mondi’s versatile functional barrier paper across a number of its ranges. The first newly packaged product to hit the shelves earlier this month was the retailer’s frozen chicken dippers, which reduces the amount of plastic used per year by 80%.

The functional barrier paper is made from renewable resources with Mondi managing the paper production and coating in-house, providing a fully integrated solution. It is easy for consumers to recycle the paper in existing waste streams and as paper is the most widely recycled material in the world - 74% of paper and 83% of paper-based packaging in Europe are recycled – the solution ensures that the paper can be recycled at the end of its life, contributing to a circular economy.

Stuart Lendrum, Head of Packaging, Quality and Food Safety at Iceland added: “We’ve been bold in our aims to remove plastic: we were the first UK retailer to publish our plastic footprint along with our pledge to ultimately become plastic free. To deliver on this “Doing it Right” promise, we knew we would need the expertise of global packaging suppliers like Mondi. Their collaborative EcoSolutions approach meant that our teams worked together to consider all elements of the product manufacturing and delivery journey. We now have a sustainable solution that is efficient to use, protects the products and meets the expectations of our customers.”

Importantly, Mondi’s functional barrier paper offers complete product protection, ensuring the product has the same shelf life as it did with its previous packaging. Thanks to the high stiffness of the paper, the packaging is puncture resistant and ensures an efficient filling process that runs seamlessly on existing machinery.

Iceland has set out ambitious sustainability targets and has already made great strides in reducing plastic packaging. Some products need more specialised solutions to ensure consumers get safe, high-quality food. Mondi’s functional barrier paper uses a wafer-thin coating that provides all the necessary barriers to keep food fresh and can still be recycled. It is a pleasure to be working with Iceland on their range of frozen food products.

Iceland aims to be the first UK supermarket to become plastic neutral, adapting to paper packaging wherever possible and offsetting its remaining plastic footprint by recovering and recycling environmental and nature-bound waste plastic. By working with Mondi, Iceland has benefitted from the packaging specialist’s EcoSolutions approach to work closely together to ask the right questions and develop the most sustainable packaging solutions.

Contact

Judith Wronn
Senior Communication Manager, Mondi Flexible Packaging & Engineered Materials
Tel: +49 151 17714692
Email: Judith.Wronn@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 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 2020, Mondi had revenues of €6.66 billion and underlying EBITDA of €1.35 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.

About Mondi Functional Paper and Films

Mondi Functional Paper and Films (FPF) is part of Mondi’s Business Unit Engineered Materials, providing paper and film-based solutions such as release liners, barrier coatings, and technical films following our motto paper where possible, and plastic when useful so we can provide customers with products that are sustainable by design. The industries served are graphic arts, labels, tapes, fibre composites, industrial, building insulation, hygiene, medical, envelopes, food & consumer goods, corrugated case linings, foam liners, automotive, and industrial packaging. Oriented towards a sustainable future and committed to quality, Mondi FPF is an agile and innovative partner with technically advanced expertise, global availability, and customised solutions.   Well-connected within the Mondi Group, we are an integrated part of the value chain. Mondi FPF can imagine, design, and create innovations to meet the rapidly changing demands in the industry, and has access to an international network of specialists with over 11 plants in seven countries and three continents.