Packaging and paper manufacturing company Mondi completed the conversion of the paper machine at its Duino mill in Italy to a recycled containerboard machine in April 2025.
The €200m ($216m) conversion project was part of Mondi’s €1.2bn approved programme for organic growth projects.
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The primary goal of the investment programme was to address the increasing demand for sustainable packaging, enhance the product range and reduce the company’s environmental impact.
The converted mill can manufacture 420,000t of recycled containerboard annually. It also enables backward integration in Mondi’s corrugated packaging division and improves the security of supply to meet customer demands.
Location
The Duino mill is located near Trieste in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.
It is situated near two important export harbours, which help in supplying corrugated solutions to Mondi’s customers located in Central Europe and Turkey, in addition to the local Italian market.
Mondi’s recycled containerboard facility details
Mondi acquired the Duino mill from the Burgo Group, a graphic and speciality papers producer, for €40m in January 2023 and announced plans for the conversion project.
The strategic acquisition was in line with Mondi’s commitment to produce cost-effective and sustainable packaging solutions, with a particular focus on expanding its recycled products.
The ground-breaking ceremony for the conversion project took place in May 2024.
The mill, which operated one paper machine producing lightweight coated mechanical paper, was replaced with Mondi’s widest recycled containerboard machine, with a width of 8.5m.
The project also included the construction of a new recycled fibre plant, a wastewater treatment facility and related infrastructure, along with warehousing facilities.
Mondi’s Duino facility caters to local and regional markets through short delivery routes and serves international customers via nearby ports.
It sources materials locally, supporting the local economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions through shorter transport distances and enhancing the resilience of the supply chain.
Mondi’s containerboard product details
Mondi’s recycled paper machine at the converted Duino mill manufactures waste-based fluting starting from 80 grams per square meter (gsm), testliner from 90gsm, and paper reels of between 0.95m and 3.35m width.
The company’s range of containerboard includes white and brown-top kraftliners, testliners, recycled containerboard that are made from fresh fibre, recycled fibre and various combinations.
The containerboard products have resistance to moisture, impact, crushing and tearing. They are produced from responsibly sourced wood and are fully recyclable.
The recycled containerboard products are made entirely from 100% recovered fibre, offering excellent runnability and processing properties.
These products are suitable for lightweight corrugated case material and can be used in industrial packaging and e-commerce.
Among the recycled containerboard products offered by Mondi are ProVantage Fluting WB and ProVantage Testliner 3.
Their features include a top ply made entirely of fresh fibres with exceptional runnability and high strength. Their applications include industrial packaging, heavy-duty packaging, and e-commerce.
This line includes ProVantage Kraftliner, which is 100% recyclable and ideal for eco-friendly packaging, ProVantage KraftTop LinerX and ProVantage Kraftliner Aqua.
Mondi’s white containerboard has a bright, high-quality paper surface with a white hardwood top sheet, providing superior strength, excellent printability and optimal runnability. It is suitable for shelf-ready packaging, point-of-sale displays, e-commerce and customised packaging.
ProVantage Baywhite and ProVantage Smartwhite are two of the products in this category.
Mondi also offers containerboard support and consultation services.
Contractors involved
Mrozek, a construction company, was appointed to execute demolition work for the conversion project.
The contract covered the removal of reinforced concrete floor slabs, ceilings, beams, walls and balconies, and the deconstruction of structural elements within interior areas of the building.
Marketing commentary on Mondi
Mondi is a provider of sustainable packaging and paper solutions.
The company has a workforce of 24,000, spread across a network of 100 production facilities in more than 30 nations, with its principal activities centred in Europe, North America, and Africa.
The organisation is structured into three primary divisions: corrugated packaging, flexible packaging and uncoated fine paper.
The corrugated packaging division specialises in containerboard and eco-friendly corrugated packaging solutions, while the flexible packaging focuses on kraft paper and encompasses a wide range of paper, flexible plastic and hybrid solutions.
The uncoated fine paper division caters to the needs of home and office environments, as well as conversion and professional printing sectors.