Mondi will provide Iceland with functional barrier paper solutions, which are expected to reduce the annual plastic use by 80%
Iceland’s frozen chicken dippers with new packaging. (Credit: Mondi.)
UK-based frozen food retailer Iceland has selected packaging firm Mondi to provide renewable, recyclable paper packaging for its products.
The retailer will replace the previous packaging with Mondi’s new functional barrier paper made from renewable resources.
The packaging company said that it manages the paper manufacturing and coating with its in-house capabilities and provides the product as a fully integrated solution.
Iceland has initially launched the new packaging for its frozen chicken dippers, earlier this month, which is expected to reduce the annual plastic use by 80%.
The retailer aims to become plastic neutral by adapting paper packaging and counterbalancing its plastic footprint by recovering and recycling waste plastic.
Its partnership with Mondi is aimed to develop sustainable packaging solutions by leveraging the packaging specialist’s EcoSolutions approach.
Iceland packaging, quality and food safety head Stuart Lendrum said: “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.”
Mondi is engaged in managing forests and producing pulp, paper and plastic films as well as developing and manufacturing industrial and consumer packaging solutions.
Its Functional Paper and Films (FPF) unit provides paper and film-based solutions, including release liners, barrier coatings, and technical films.
The functional barrier paper is said to provide complete product protection and ensures that the product retains its shelf life as with its previous packaging.
The paper is highly stiff, the packaging is puncture resistant and ensures an optimal filling process on existing machinery, said the company.
Mondi extrusion solutions sales and business development director Falk Paulsen said: “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.”
Earlier this month, Mondi opened a new packaging testing laboratory in České Budějovice, Czech Republic.