Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has developed an innovative banana box packaging solution that is lighter though equally strong and more sustainable – thanks to close collaboration with partners across the value chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The project began when Mondi\u2019s technical team for containerboard explored a simple but ambitious question during a customer visit in Latin America: Could the standard banana box be made lighter and more sustainable without compromising on strength?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What followed was an international collaboration between Mondi, trading partner Europcell, Ecuadorian banana exporter Incarpalm, and a leading European importer. Together, the teams redesigned the structure and paper composition of the traditional banana box, testing multiple scenarios to balance durability, weight and humidity resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new concept combines ProVantage SmartKraft Brown, known for its high strength and protective qualities, with ProVantage Frescoflute, a semi-chemical fluting that enhances firmness in lightweight packaging boxes. The result is a box made with around 40% recycled fibre and up to 10% less weight than the previous design – helping to lower emissions during transport without compromising fruit protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To validate performance under real-world conditions, a full-scale production trial took place in Ecuador in summer 2024. Bananas packed in the new boxes were shipped to Europe over a 33-day journey, with sensors monitoring humidity and temperature. Despite extreme humidity levels of up to 100%, the boxes maintained their integrity throughout transit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeeing the new box perform under such tough conditions was incredibly rewarding,\u201d said Marek Motylewski, Technical Service Expert for containerboard products. \u201cIt started as a question on a customer visit and turned into a solution that delivers measurable benefits for the entire supply chain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe reliability of the box is everything,\u201d added Jorge Romero, Operations Manager at Incarpalm. \u201cThis collaboration proves that innovation and practicality must go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The success has already sparked interest among other fruit exporters and retailers. With upcoming regulations, including a 2026 EU ban on plastic wrap inside banana boxes, demand for fibre-based alternatives is expected to rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis project shows what\u2019s possible when we combine technical expertise with open collaboration,\u201d said Gijs Huisman, Sales Director at Mondi Containerboard. \u201cIt\u2019s a great example of co-creation that delivers tangible results in strength, sustainability and supply chain efficiency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The improved banana box marks another step in Mondi\u2019s commitment to developing fit-for-purpose packaging that meets customer needs while supporting more sustainable solutions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, has developed an innovative banana box packaging solution that is lighter though equally strong and more sustainable – thanks to close collaboration with partners across the value chain. The project began when Mondi\u2019s technical team for containerboard explored a simple but ambitious question during a customer visit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19721,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,73,64],"tags":[85],"class_list":{"0":"post-19720","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-corrugated-folding-carton","8":"category-india-south-asia","9":"category-latest-news","10":"tag-mondi"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19720"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19722,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19720\/revisions\/19722"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpmirror.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}