Mondi launches recyclable packaging film for fresh and processed food

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Bangkok – 25 February 2026: Marking the first-ever collaboration of three industry leaders, Taokaenoi Food & Marketing Public Company Limited, or TKN, a manufacturer of seaweed snacks distributed domestically and internationally, SCG Chemicals, or SCGC, a leading integrated polymer and solutions provider for sustainability, and Dow Thailand Group, or Dow, a global leader in materials science, have jointly announced the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to revolutionize the snack industry through the “Food-Grade Circular Packaging by Advanced Recycling Technology” project. This initiative aims to sustainably address plastic waste challenges under the concept of closed-loop recycling. This collaboration entails utilizing multi-layer packaging waste from the production processes of Taokaenoi, which was previously difficult to recycle. This waste will be processed using the advanced recycling technology of SCGC and converted back into circular feedstock. Following this, Dow will utilize the feedstock to produce new, clean, and food-grade plastic resins. These resins will then be safely used to manufacture food packaging for the Taokaenoi brand once again. It is anticipated that the packaging will be ready for commercial distribution by the end of 2026. Ms. Orrapat Peeradechapan, Chief Executive Officer of Taokaenoi Food & Marketing Public Company Limited, said, “Taokaenoi is committed to creating happiness for consumers through high-quality snacks, alongside prioritizing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles by emphasizing sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. This collaboration represents a significant milestone that transforms the ‘challenge’ of hard-to-recycle packaging into an ‘opportunity’ to establish a practical circular economy. It is not merely about waste disposal, but rather about creating new value from used plastic. We do not only deliver great-tasting products, but we also aim to deliver a better world to consumers through eco-friendly packaging innovations that are clean, safe, and tangibly reduce environmental impacts. This will drive our business to grow alongside genuine sustainability.” Dr. Suracha Udomsak, Chief Operations and Innovation Officer of SCGC, said, “This collaboration reflects the capability of SCGC in utilizing advanced recycling technology to manage plastic packaging composed of multiple materials, which is difficult to recycle, and converting it back into circular feedstock. This feedstock can be used to produce new plastic resins (Certified Circular Polyolefin Resin), which possess properties and quality entirely equivalent to standard virgin plastic resins in all respects and are safe for direct food contact. As a result, the materials can be reused to manufacture food packaging for Taokaenoi. In addition, our process has achieved the globally recognized sustainability certification, ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), throughout the entire supply chain, making SCGC the first company in ASEAN to achieve such certification. This partnership is considered a crucial step in driving SCGC’s goal of reintegrating used plastic into the circular economy system at a volume of 500,000 tons per year by 2030, through collaborations with business partners across the entire value chain.” Meanwhile, Mr. Vichan Tangkengsirisin, President of Dow Thailand, added, “As a materials science leader, Dow is proud to support this collaboration in Thailand by applying our technology to produce circular plastic resins from used flexible packaging feedstock with performance equivalent to fossil-based plastics. Dow Thailand Group’s polyethylene facility in Rayong is ISCC PLUS certified for its capability of converting advanced recycled feedstock into high quality, food grade circular resins. This initiative represents an important step toward closing the plastics loop in Thailand and advancing Dow’s sustainability ambition to transform the waste through collaboration with customers and value chain partners.” This collaboration serves as a model for the comprehensive management of used multi-layer plastic packaging. It reduces the accumulation of plastic waste in the country and decreases the consumption of new resources. This aligns with the sustainability goals of Taokaenoi, SCGC, and Dow, reinforcing the role of the business sector in tangibly driving the circular economy to build a sustainable future together.

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Mondi launches recyclable packaging film for fresh and processed food

Mondi Group has developed a fully-recyclable polypropylene construction for thermoforming applications with a 23% reduction in carbon footprint compared to existing packaging

Sustainable paper and packaging solutions provider Mondi Group has developed a fully-recyclable polypropylene construction for thermoforming applications which offers a 23% reduction in carbon footprint compared to existing packaging.

The recyclable polypropylene film is designed for the thermoforming of flexible films for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging, which is known for its ability to extend the shelf life of products such as meat and cheese.

Mondi’s film certified as recyclable
The new, coextruded material includes a top and bottom web, with an internal barrier layer that comprises less than 5 percent of the entire structure, meaning it qualifies as a mono-material construction and is fully recyclable in existing waste streams. The German-based Institute for Recyclability and Product Responsibility (Institut cyclos-HTP) has independently certified that both the top and bottom webs of this construction have the highest qualification ‘Class AAA’ in recyclability.

The previous multi-material construction rendered the previous packages unrecyclable and also resulted in a much higher carbon footprint.

Fully recyclable while keeping food fresh
Thomas Kahl, project manager EcoSolutions for Mondi Consumer Packaging, explains: “Mondi’s view is that packaging should always be fit-for-purpose – paper where possible, plastic when useful – and sustainable by design. The challenge with this project was to maintain the functionality that is key to such applications, including excellent oxygen and moisture barriers, and high puncture resistance – while also enhancing the package’s recyclability.”

In summary, Mondi customers who use this product can:

• thermoform a fully recyclable PP film that retains all the functionality of the previous, multi-material construction

• achieve great sealability in the resulting package due to both the top and bottom web being the same, compatible material benefit from excellent optical properties and an outstanding gas barrier that provides for longer shelf life of the packed foodstuffs.

Users also benefit by tapping into Mondi’s years of experience in food packaging, with Mondi’s plant in Styria offering extensive expertise high-barrier applications for food packaging.

A step closer to a circular economy
This development aims to correspond with design guidelines of major brand owners and retailers who have sustainability in mind. This thermoformable food packaging corresponds to their requirements for redesigning flexible packaging to become more sustainable, while also meeting the challenges laid out in the ‘New Plastic Economy’ global initiative (www.newplasticseconomy.org) which is striving toward a more circular and sustainable economy.