Mondi has introduced a new banana box packaging design that uses 40% recycled fibre and is up to 10% lighter than conventional boxes while maintaining durability.
The packaging was developed through a partnership between Mondi, Ecuadorian banana exporter Incarpalm, trading partner Europcell and a European importer.
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The project aims to reduce the weight and environmental impact of traditional banana boxes without affecting performance standards.
As part of the development process, the partners reworked the box’s structure and paper composition, conducting several tests to ensure a balance between strength, weight and humidity resistance.
The resulting design combines Mondi’s ProVantage SmartKraft Brown, recognised for its strength and protective qualities, with ProVantage Frescoflute, a semi-chemical fluting that enhances the rigidity of lightweight packaging.
A full-scale production trial was carried out in Ecuador during summer 2024. Bananas packed in the redesigned boxes were transported to Europe over a 33-day period.
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By GlobalDataSensors recorded humidity and temperature levels throughout the shipment,, finding that the boxes retained their condition even in humidity levels reaching 100%.
Mondi containerboard products technical service expert Marek Motylewski stated: “We saw humidity levels between 96 and 100% — extreme conditions for any packaging.
“But the boxes held up. No collapse. No compromise. It was one of the most meaningful moments in my career. To see something that started as a question turn into a working solution — that’s why we do this.”
The new design has attracted interest from fruit exporters and retailers and is expected to see growing demand ahead of the European Union’s 2026 ban on plastic wrap inside banana boxes.
Mondi Containerboard sales director Gijs Huisman stated: “This collaboration is a great example of how to approach an end-use application from a different angle.
“It’s about listening, co-creating and delivering something that works for the entire value chain.”
In October 2025, Mondi collaborated with Türkiye’s Özler Tarım, an exporter of fresh fruits and vegetables, to jointly develop a recyclable corrugated packaging solution.
