Partnership creates recyclable paper bag for fresh potatoes

Mitolo Family Farms, a leader in Australia’s potato and onion category, has partnered with Coles and Detpak to create a kerbside recyclable paper bag for fresh potatoes.

The packaging innovation will see Mitolo Family Farms’ Gourmandine potatoes sold in paper bags, delivering a 64% reduction in plastic, with 8.2 t less plastic being used each year when compared to the previous packaging of the product.

The paper packaging extends on previous sustainability steps taken by Mitolo Family Farms, which cut its use of plastic packaging by 60 t in 2022 by reducing the thickness of plastic used to bag potatoes.

A result of more than three years of rigorous development, it is hoped that the packaging innovation will lead to fresh produce items being packed in a way that makes it easy to support recycling efforts.

According to Frank Mitolo, Mitolo Family Farms Managing Director, it has taken immense work to ensure the bag is sustainable without compromising the quality of the potatoes. The companies considered supermarket lighting levels, breathing holes that don’t tear, new sealing solutions, bag strength and more while developing the product.

Tom Lunn, Detmold Group General Manager of Innovation and Sustainability, said Detpak used proprietary technology to deliver on sustainability and efficiency outcomes.

“We’re very pleased to have been able to draw on our in-house development capabilities in order to assist Mitolo Family Farms with their desire to transition their Gourmandine product away from plastic packaging,” he said.

Mitolo Family Farm’s Gourmandine potatoes are exclusively available in Coles supermarkets.

Tim Nitschke, Coles Business Category Manager for Vegetables, said, “Coles has partnered with the Mitolo family for over 25 years and we are pleased to work closely with them to develop this innovative paper packaging solution for the Gourmandine range available exclusively at Coles.

“We are always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging in our stores, as well as reduce food waste, and this innovative new paper bag helps to achieve these sustainability ambitions.”