Mondi expands capacity for sustainable pet food packaging

The demand for wet pet food is estimated to grow 5% a year between 2020 and 2025, according to Wood Mackenzie 2020 (PCI).

In order to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions in the pet food sector, Mondi has announced it is investing nearly €65 million (roughly $96 million) in three of its packaging plants. The investment is being made as part of the company’s €1 billion commitment to expand its sustainable output and strengthen its position in the pet food packaging sector.

The Mondi Korneuburg facility in Austria and the company’s Halle and Steinfeld locations in Germany will be receiving the upgrades with advanced machinery and expanded production areas. The former site will be producing pre-made retort stand-up pouches for wet pet food, while the latter ones will be making sustainable pre-made bag solutions for pet food, as well as home and personal care applications.

The upgraded plants will help with the switch from multi-layer, non-recyclable packaging to more sustainable alternatives such as mono-material recyclable stand-up pouches and paper-based pre-made bags.

Dirk Gabriel, COO Consumer Flexibles, Mondi said: “We take pride in being an innovative, agile partner for our customers. With this investment, we continue to take the lead in packaging solutions that are sustainable by design, especially in the pet food industry.

“This investment also supports our Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) sustainability framework which is focused on circular driven solutions, created by empowered people, taking action on climate. With these projects, we’re increasing operational efficiency and reducing our own energy consumption while also connecting our production network.”

Image credit: Mondi