They are one of the innovations made in Frantschach-St. Gertraud have arisen. Paper sausage and cheese packaging minimally coated with plastic to meet food standards. However, such composite packaging is not always easy to recycle.
That is why the recyclability of packaging is being researched in detail in the new in-house laboratory. “It is often not so obvious to the end consumer whether a product that looks like it is made of paper is actually allowed to end up in the paper waste bin or not. Here we are trying to provide supporting information,” says the Head of Research & Development, Elisabeth Schwaiger.
Goal: All products recyclable by 2025
In the first place, however, research is carried out for the decreasing industry, including food groups or mail order giants, in order to score points in global competition. “The ability to provide our customers with information regarding the recyclability of the packaging solutions is a major advantage and helps us in our efforts to make all our products recyclable by 2025,” says Managing Director Gottfried Joham.
The paper products manufactured by Mondi are currently 78 percent recyclable. The new lab is expected to push that number up faster than before. “This laboratory is regarding evaluating the water content that can be recovered from packaging and thus being able to provide a closed-loop economy with facts and information for potential industrial recyclers,” says Schwaiger.
Customers save having their own laboratories
This would save Mondi customers their own laboratories and they would receive a complete package of information and packaging from Frantschach-St. Gertraud. “For the direct customers of the packaging solutions, it’s regarding achieving their sustainability goals,” says Schwaiger.
The recycling laboratory is now the fourth research pillar in the Carinthian Mondi plant. According to Managing Director Joham, 15 highly qualified employees work in their own laboratory wing on the factory premises. Research and development as the key to growing even more with sustainable products, that is the goal in Lavanttal.
