Mondi Group – Smart, Recyclable Packaging for Fresh Produce

Company Name: Mondi Group

Headquarters: Vienna, Austria (global operations)

Offering: Mondi Group specializes in recyclable micro-perforated films and packaging solutions, including paper-based packaging and mono-material polypropylene (PP) films. These solutions are designed to optimize fresh produce shelf life, improve product quality during transport, and support Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) applications. The packaging ensures efficient gas exchange, controlling respiration rates of fruits and vegetables to minimize spoilage and condensation.

Table of Contents

Detailed Case Study:

In 2025, Mondi Group collaborated with Özler Tarım, a leading Turkish exporter of fruits and vegetables, to revolutionize their export packaging. The goal was to ensure fresh produce could withstand long-distance transport while maintaining quality and reducing losses.

The joint solution involved:

Double-wall corrugated boxes: These provided enhanced mechanical strength, allowing produce to be stacked efficiently during shipping without collapsing or crushing. The boxes were also optimized for sea freight conditions, ensuring products remained intact during long journeys.
Micro-perforated films: Integrated within the corrugated structure, these films provided a breathable barrier, allowing controlled oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. This helped maintain optimal humidity levels, minimized condensation, and reduced microbial growth.
Co-designed structure: Mondi engineers worked closely with Özler Tarım to balance mechanical robustness and ventilation, creating a packaging system that protected products physically while maintaining produce quality over extended periods.

This initiative focused not only on product protection but also on sustainability, using fully recyclable materials to align with circular economy principles.

Outcome:

The new packaging significantly reduced instances of collapsed boxes during sea freight, ensuring safer transit of fruits and vegetables.
Produce arrived in better condition, resulting in lower product loss claims from retailers and distributors.
Özler Tarım reported a 15% increase in production and export efficiency, as packaging reliability allowed for smoother logistics and fewer disruptions.
Customer satisfaction improved due to consistent product quality at delivery.

Protective Advantage (Protectional):

Micro-perforated / breathable films: Maintained the right gas balance and humidity, minimizing spoilage and prolonging shelf life.
Corrugated box structure: Provided robust physical protection, reducing crushing and impact damage while remaining fully recyclable, supporting sustainable supply chains.

Impact on the Market:

This case demonstrates how sustainable and breathable packaging solutions are increasingly critical in long-haul fresh produce exports, a core segment for micro-perforated packaging.
Highlights the importance of circular economy packaging, as the use of recyclable, mono-material packaging reduces environmental impact and food waste.
Sets a precedent for other exporters to adopt similar innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions, potentially influencing industry-wide standards.

Financial After Implementation:

While specific revenue figures from the Mondi–Özler Tarım project are not publicly disclosed, Mondi’s 2024/2025 financial reports indicate strong investments in sustainable packaging, reflecting both commercial viability and strategic growth in this segment.
For Özler Tarım, cost benefits included:
- Reduced product losses and claims from damaged goods.
- Lower disposal costs, as packaging was fully recyclable.
- Operational efficiency gains, thanks to reliable and stackable packaging for exports.

Overall, the implementation likely resulted in a significant ROI through reduced waste, improved logistics, and enhanced market competitiveness.

Source: https://introspectivemarketresearch.com/reports/micro-perforated-food-packaging-market/