Sonoco ISCC PLUS Certification Promotes Flexible Packaging Circularity

Due to uncompetitive wood prices from the Polish State Forestry Monopoly and significantly reduced market demand for paper and cardboard products, the company has decided to significantly reduce the planned multi-year strategic investment project at MM Kwidzyn with a focus on energy, further pulp integration and product portfolio, which was announced at the end of April 2023 . MM Kwidzyn will instead focus investments on further increasing its already high share of renewable energy from the current 69%. In addition, discussions were started with employee representatives about a possible closure of the small paper machine (PM 3) for packaging kraft paper and about restructuring, which could lead to a reduction in the workforce of around 110 employees. MM Kwidzyn will continue pulp and virgin fiber board production unchanged. In the paper sector, the PM 1 and PM 2 paper machines will continue to produce up to 360,000tpa of uncoated fine paper and 40-80,000tpa of “IPACK TM Strong Pro” (packaging kraft paper). Since one of the fine paper machines has not been converted, no sack kraft paper will be produced in Kwidzyn.

In March 2022, we received three recognitions for product innovations for their technical excellence, sustainability performance, and enhanced consumer experiences by DOW Packaging Innovation Awards 2021. Here is how we win to make a difference for our customers – where it matters. Our multiple award-winning Sundae cup and lid received the Diamond Finalist award at the Packaging Innovation Awards. Behind the success of this innovation is the fact that the fiber-based cup and lid are made from 100% renewable resources, with wood fibers from sustainably managed forests. They are recyclable and compostable. Moreover, this plant-based innovation provides the insulating effect needed from for ice cream packaging – also ensuring a great consumer experience. Our packaging innovation Nescafe Protect Proslim - the world’s first recyclable alu-foil free instant coffee stick received the Silver Winner Award at DOW Packaging Innovation Awards 2021. Nescafe Protect Proslim is designed to replace the aluminum instant coffee sticks with mixed polyolefin structure, making the packaging fully recyclable without compromising on product shelf-life. This product is a great example of helping our customers get ahead with sustainability without compromising on consumer preferences. We also received Silver for the Garnier Men Shampoo Color packaging innovation. We collaborated with our customer L’Oréal in India to develop this innovative product, which particularly helps enhance consumer experiences through its user-friendly design. The vast differences in the colorant and developer formulas mean that they have very different packaging needs. We successfully developed packaging that met the needs of both formulas of the color shampoo and can house the colorant and developer formula in the same sachet without them mixing until the time of use.

Mondi Industrial Bags, in collaboration with its customer and cement producer LafargeHolcim, has created SPLASHBAG – a paper-based solution designed to satisfy the need of dealing with materials that are often exposed to wet conditions or environments. The product has been developed as a direct response to the customer’s packaging needs in this area, and is suitable for the protection of moisture-sensitive filling goods, including building materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Having successfully launched in Europe, the product is now gaining traction in many other markets around the world. Based on Mondi`s Advantage Protect sack kraft paper – a grade that offers both a water-repellent surface and high wet tensile strength – the bag maintains high strength even in wet environments. Thanks to its bespoke benefits, within the last year SPLASHBAG has quickly gained global recognition – from Azerbaijan and Bulgaria to France and La Réunion. The key to SPLASHBAG‘s success lies in its enhanced sack kraft paper properties – absorbing less moisture than conventional paper bags and maintaining both integrity and product quality. Click Read More below for additional detail.