Mondi Expands High-Barrier Paper Portfolio with FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate

Mondi, a global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, is broadening its high-performance barrier paper portfolio with the launch of FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate—a recyclable, paper-based solution designed to meet even the most demanding packaging requirements.

Backed by a €16 million investment in advanced technology at its Solec plant in Poland, Mondi is ramping up production of this barrier paper, which provides outstanding protection against oxygen, water vapour and grease. With an oxygen transmission rate (OTR) below 0.5 cm³/m²d and a water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) below 0.5 g/m²d, it ensures product safety and extended shelf life. Internal impact assessments confirm that the solution also delivers significantly lower cradle-to-grave CO₂ emissions compared to conventional multi-layer plastic or aluminium-based packaging.

As part of Mondi’s re/cycle portfolio, FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate meets the company’s Path to Circularity Scorecard standards and is certified recyclable according to the Cepi Recyclability Laboratory Test Method (Jan 2025) and 4evergreen’s Recycling Evaluation Protocol. This makes it a sustainable alternative to traditional, non-renewable packaging formats.

The solution is ideal for high-barrier applications such as instant coffee sticks, pod overwraps, tea sachets, dried food seasonings, muesli or cereal bars, and bouillon cubes. It complements Mondi’s wider FunctionalBarrier Paper range, offering customers multiple barrier levels tailored to their product needs.

Designed for compatibility with existing horizontal and vertical form-fill-seal lines, FunctionalBarrier Paper Ultimate enables seamless integration into production, supporting brands in achieving circular economy goals and meeting evolving regulatory and consumer demands for sustainable packaging.

Source: mondigroup.com