Sustainability FAQs

In short, yes! Packaging can be sustainable. At Mondi, we follow our approach to find the most sustainable packaging solutions for our customers and the planet. This involves replacing less sustainable packaging with paper where possible and plastic when useful, using fewer raw materials through sustainable design and operational efficiency, and developing fit-for-purpose solutions that are designed for recycling. 

Learn about our commitments on Circular Driven Solutions and our product life cycle assessments. 

Packaging plays an essential role in avoiding waste, but it's important to ensure that it doesn't become waste itself. Collaboration across the value chain is key to achieving this goal.  

• Sustainable design: Packaging must be designed to be fully reusable, recyclable, or compostable in order to contribute to a circular economy. We are committed to make 100% of our packaging and paper portfolio recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2030. Learn more about our commitments to Circular Driven Solutions. 
   
• Less is more: Flexible plastic packaging often uses less material, such as our award-winning recyclable StripPouch which uses 70% less material than rigid plastic bottles of the same volume. This can help reduce waste and save resources. Look at our flexible packaging solutions.
   
• Partner power: We're working with customers, recyclers, and partners like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, CEFLEX and 4evergreen to design packaging that doesn't become waste. By collaborating across the value chain, we can create a more sustainable future for packaging. Get more insights about our partnerships. 

We are committed to protecting forests through sustainable forest management and sourcing fibre from responsible sources. Here are some actions we take to prevent deforestation in our forest operations and supply chain.  

• 100% of our wood is responsibly sourced, with 90% sourced locally from the countries where our mills are located. This helps support local communities and economies while minimizing the environmental impact of transportation. 
   
• 100% of our paper mills and forestry operations are chain of custody certified. This supports transparency in the supply chain by sourcing from responsibly managed forests. 
   
• We promote the #sustainable working forest’ model, which integrates productive harvesting sites that are regenerated with effective ecological networks to protect and support biodiversity, water and ecosystem services. We believe that by giving forests a value as a source of renewable materials, we protect and enhance them. This demonstrates that sustainable forest management can benefit both the environment and the economy. 

Get more insights on our climate commitments.

We believe that it is possible to protect biodiversity while also generating revenue from wood: 

• Our Sustainable Working Forest model involves carefully managing our forests to promote growth and maintain healthy ecosystems. 
   
• Roughly a quarter our forestry landholdings in South Africa are not harvested but managed for conservation and protection of ecosystems. This helps preserve important habitats for a wide range of species and maintain the overall health of the forest. 
   
• We have an opportunity to lead the way in our own plantation forestry operations in South Africa by developing best practice silviculture and other forest management practices to promote tree growth and resilience. By employing sustainable management practices, we can protect biodiversity and ensure the productivity and resilience of our forests for future generations. 
• We partner with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to improve biodiversity stewardship, measure Mondi South Africa’s footprint for species and ecosystems and identify best practices for biodiversity management.

 Get more insights on sustainable working forests and how we manage ecosystems.

Our priority is to reduce GHG emissions across our operations and value chain. Only by doing this, can we comply with the requirements of the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard. SBTi approved our Net-Zero targets, including a 90% reduction of absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 2050.   

However, SBTi acknowledges that there are limited GHG emissions that cannot yet be eliminated by setting GHG reduction measures. These remaining GHG emissions may be neutralised in future through compensation measures.  

Learn more about our science-based Net-Zero targets.

Yes, an important part of our climate transition plan is to accelerate supplier engagement on the topic of decarbonisation. We started to actively reach out to our suppliers to encourage them to think about their carbon footprints, adopt low carbon practices and set science-based targets. This includes the organisation of supplier virtual events, workshops and direct engagement with key suppliers.  

 Learn about our science-based Net-Zero targets.