In the realm of food and drink packaging, Mondi, a leading global player in packaging and paper, has unveiled an exciting new sustainable sleeve packaging solution. Designed to replace traditional plastic shrink wrap, this innovative packaging has been specifically developed to securely hold 1.5 litre sparkling soft drink multipacks produced by Coca-Cola HBC in Austria. This new solution, known as Hug-IT, is made from Mondi’s Advantage SpringPack Plus, which has earned the prestigious title of the world’s strongest paper according to Guinness World Records.
The Hug-IT sleeve boasts exceptional tensile strength and unparalleled stretchability, enabling it to tightly wrap around a six-bottle multipack. This ensures that the bottles remain upright and securely bundled together throughout the entire transportation process, from the factory to the retailer and eventually to the consumer’s home. The Hug-IT solution is specifically designed for 1.5-liter PET multi-packs of renowned Coca-Cola brands such as Fanta, Sprite, and Mezzo Mix, and will be widely available in retail outlets across Austria. What sets the Hug-IT apart is its utilization of Advantage SpringPack Plus, the only paper on the market that possesses such exceptional strength to hold bottle bundles together.
Advantage SpringPack Plus is crafted from 100% FSC® Certified kraft paper derived from responsibly sourced wood fibers. It is also fully recyclable within existing paper recycling systems, harnessing the high recycling rates of paper in Europe (82% within the EU). Its eco-friendly nature makes it convenient for consumers to dispose of after use.
The development of the Hug-IT solution spanned over a period of three years, involving multiple divisions within Mondi and fostering cross-segment collaboration. This synergy allowed Mondi to leverage its expertise in paper packaging and converting, resulting in more sustainable and technologically advanced solutions. Thanks to a fruitful partnership with Krones, a renowned technology group and service provider in the beverage and liquid food industry, the sleeves were engineered using state-of-the-art automated machinery. Krones’ swift installation and close collaboration with Mondi ensured a smooth and efficient process. Expert teams from Mondi, Coca-Cola HBC, and Krones worked closely together to overcome challenges related to the required strength and stretchability of the paper.
Felix Sprenger, Supply Chain Director at Coca-Cola HBC Austria, emphasizes the significance of using resources carefully and employing recyclable materials, which form a crucial pillar of their sustainability strategy. The introduction of the Hug-IT solution, which currently stands as a unique offering globally, allows them to further reduce plastic usage by approximately 200 tons annually. Sprenger expresses his delight in collaborating with Mondi and other partners to contribute to the circular economy and actively address sustainability concerns.
Silvia Hanzelova, Sales Director of Speciality Kraft Paper at Mondi, shares the company’s approach of favoring paper whenever possible, while also acknowledging the usefulness of plastic in certain applications. The shrink wrap solution commonly used to bundle bottles across different industries and continents provided the ideal opportunity to put this philosophy into practice. By creating a paper as strong as the plastic shrink wrap, Mondi can effectively replace it, offering secure transportation of multipacks with their Hug-IT paper sleeves that significantly reduce plastic usage.
Mondi’s Advantage MF SpringPack Plus holds an incredible record, being recognized by the Guinness World Records as the strongest paper in the world. This brown MF grade holds the impressive feat of lifting a 4.2-tonne container on a single sheet, showcasing its remarkable strength. In fact, Mondi even unofficially broke its own record in 2003 by successfully parking and lifting a 9.8-tonne locomotive on a single sheet.