Mondi has announced that its uncoated fine paper portfolio produced at the Merebank mill in South Africa is now 'Cradle to Cradle Certified' at the Bronze level.

This achievement is said to be a first for South Africa, positioning Mondi as the sole company in the country with this certification for paper products.

The certified range includes Mondi's Rotatrim brand, a multifunctional office paper, which has recently unveiled a new design focusing on local design and enhanced product performance.

Also certified are various uncoated woodfree reels, including Envapost, Constat, and Script.

Cradle to Cradle Certified is a certification that ensures products are designed and produced to support a circular economy, prioritising health and well-being for both people and the planet.

The certification process evaluates five categories of sustainability performance: Material Health, Clean Air and Climate Protection, Product Circularity, Water and Soil Stewardship, and Social Fairness.

Mondi's efforts to promote sustainable paper production are also evidenced by its uncoated fine paper mill brand portfolio produced in Slovakia and Austria, which was reportedly the first in Europe to receive the Cradle to Cradle Certified certification.

Mondi Merebank operations director Donovan Naidoo said: “This important sustainability milestone reflects our ongoing efforts to deliver circular-driven solutions and contributes to the group’s ambitious Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) sustainability commitments.

"It also reinforces the trust our customers place in Mondi to reliably meet their evolving sustainability requirements with certified, high-quality paper solutions.”

Last month, Mondi launched a sustainable, high-barrier paper bag intended to safeguard humidity-sensitive products.