Celebrating eCommerce Sustainability

At SPN we regulary invite captains of the packaging industry for their insights and observations concerning sustainability, from a company perspective. On this occasion, we invited Nedim Nisic, Mondi Group’s eCommerce director, to expand on where the company is now, and where it plans to be, moving forward.

SPN asked Nedim the following wide-ranging questions: How ‘sustainability-aware’ would you say your company is and what recent measures have you taken to improve your overall contribution to the circular economy?

As a leading manufacturer of sustainable packaging and paper solutions, we can offer our customers a multi-material portfolio of fit-for-purpose eCommerce packaging solutions that support their sustainability goals by optimising their packaging.

Our Mondi Action Plan 2030 (MAP2030) sustainability framework sets out our commitment to creating circulardriven solutions, driven by empowered people, taking action on climate.

In our work to create circular solutions, our target is for 100% of our packaging and paper to be reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. We also have targets to eliminate waste in landfills as well as demonstrate progress with our partnerships to eradicate unsustainable packaging.

In relation to sustainability, what would you say have been your most important milestones?

Following Mondi’s commitment to Net-Zero by 2050, we recently had our Net-Zero targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, building on our long-term commitment to take action on climate change. Mondi has already made significant progress by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by almost 45% against our 2004 baseline.

Our recently developed Path to Circularity Scorecard provides us with a framework to assess the circularity of our portfolio and apply harmonised criteria and thresholds across our packaging and paper product groups.

What do you consider to be the most promising market opportunities for your company at this time?

In addition to opportunities around our sustainable solutions, we know from our eCommerce customers that they are navigating the dual pressures of high demand and potential manual labour shortages in their fulfilment centres. We can help ease that pressure by consulting on automated machine solutions and optimising their eCommerce operations. For example, the eComPack machine is a compact and simple solution for automating Mondi’s EnvelopeMailer, the preferred corrugated mailer in eCommerce fulfilment.

What are the key drivers for change in your industry sector and how much is the ongoing pressure for greater sustainability and recycling affecting your productivity?

The increasing demand for sustainable eCommerce packaging motivates us to push the boundaries of what is possible in our industry. We consider the environmental impacts of our products at each stage of the value chain. This involves reviewing the sourcing of raw materials; material efficiency; product design; sustainable end-of-life and product safety.

Our approach is to use paper where possible and plastic when useful, keeping the customer’s needs in focus at all stages of the design process.

As we are keen to understand more about the latest trends shaping the packaging industry in your sector, what do you consider to be the most significant developments recently?

Our recent research looked at online shopping patterns and consumer attitudes; its outcome supports us in guiding brands towards more sustainable solutions in line with consumer demands towards eCommerce packaging.

Our latest insights find that the top consumer demand trends are:

1. Protection of goods and environmental considerations continue to be two of the most vital customer requirements

2. Overpackaging costs more than expected

3. The unboxing moment matters

4. Consumers are increasingly willing to pay a small premium for packaging that meets their needs

5. The behaviour & trends of Millennials are driving the market

Can you describe your product portfolio and its sustainability credentials?

Our eCommerce portfolio offers tailored, creative solutions that are specially designed to minimise waste and protect goods being delivered with packaging that is the right size and convenient for the end consumer. Our wide range of eCommerce packaging solutions, from kraft paper to converted solutions such as MailerBAGs and corrugated solutions, makes it easy for our customers to find ideal packaging for their needs.

Are you planning the launch of any new products in the foreseeable future that you can tell us about?

We continuously explore new ways to improve packaging, focusing on sustainability, functionality and cost-effectiveness for our customers. Our innovative approach continues to be recognised, including a recent WorldStar Packaging Award, for setting new standards in secure and sustainable eCommerce packaging with our innovative corrugated solution.

How do you see the future evolving in your sector?

Consumers are increasingly mindful of the impact of products they purchase and our customers are relying on us to lead the way in resource efficiency, waste reduction and recyclability. Younger generations, and Millennials in particular, are the driving force for online shopping and they are looking for brands that put sustainability at the heart of the experience. It’s why understanding our customers’ needs and innovating together to address consumers’ expectations is so important.

For more information visit: www.mondigroup.com