Paper and packaging multinational Mondi has approved a €125-million capital investment project at its semi-chemical fluting mill in Kuopio, Finland, to increase the facility’s capacity by about 55 000 t/y to meet growing customer demand, and enhance product quality and cost-competitiveness.
The investment will also help to strengthen the mill’s environmental performance.
The project includes an upgrade of the wood yard, fibre line, evaporation plant and paper machine. Start-up is planned for the fourth quarter of 2023.
The semi-chemical fluting produced at the mill, called ProVantage Powerflute, is a high-performance and top-quality containerboard grade. Owing to its high strength, moisture resistance and durability, it is a key component of fresh fruit and vegetable trays and boxes, as well as specialised applications.
Fit-for-purpose packaging plays an important role in protecting fresh produce, which is vital considering that about a third of the world’s food is lost or wasted every year.
ProVantage Powerflute is suitable to meet the growing demand for paper-based fresh food packaging solutions that are sustainable by design, thereby minimising food waste and reducing the use of unnecessary plastic, says Mondi group CEO Andrew King.
“We are pleased to continue building our portfolio of sustainable packaging to meet our customers’ needs, leveraging the opportunities offered by our integrated, cost-advantaged asset base,” he adds.