At a time when sustainability in packaging is often more aspiration than execution, Italian packaging machinery maker Coesia is offering machine-ready paper-based solutions across its portfolio.
Speaking to Packaging South Asia at Ipack-Ima in Milan, Marika Mirenda, CRM, marketing intelligence and sustainability manager at Coesia, said the company was committed to industrially viable sustainable packaging rather than “just selling the idea.”
“Our DNA is packaging,” said Mirenda. “Our founding company CD has a long history in tobacco packaging machinery, and we have used that experience to develop a strong portfolio of paper-based alternatives.”
To promote this shift, Coesia has created a ‘Sustainability Shelf,’ featuring both physical and digital mock-ups of paper-based packs. These mock-ups are presented at trade shows and other events to demonstrate that the solutions are already operational—not mere prototypes.
“What we show are things our customers can do. The machines that make them already exist in our portfolio,” she said. “Customers don’t have time to waste on ideas that aren’t ready.”
Among the highlights on display at Ipack-Ima was a food packaging application that was produced using paper with barrier properties. Coesia exhibited shelf-ready trays containing pouches made from mono-materials, as well as paper-based tubes. The company highlighted its late-stage customization capabilities, which allow manufacturers to print regional languages or customer-specific details directly on-site, close to market.
“This gives manufacturers the flexibility to run small batches based on local requirements, such as customer care phone numbers or regulatory information. It’s especially useful in countries such as India, where language and compliance vary regionally,” Mirenda said.
The company’s packaging solutions extend into laundry, dry soaps, and even diapers, traditionally among the most polluting consumer products. “Where we can’t change the product, we try to make a difference with the packaging,” she added.
Regulation and readiness shape adoption
The response to sustainable packaging varies widely by region, according to Mirenda. “It depends heavily on regulation,” she explained, citing Europe’s forthcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) as a key driver of uptake. Political cycles also play a role: “There’s a stark contrast between the sustainability agendas of the Trump and Biden administrations in the US.”
However, even strong regulatory support cannot compensate for inadequate infrastructure. “We can propose as many sustainable solutions as we like, but if the recycling plants aren’t in place, the impact is limited. Upstream and downstream systems have to be considered together with the packaging itself.”
Collaboration across the chain
Mirenda said sustainable packaging can only succeed through collaboration. “It’s never just Coesia,” she said. “Each solution is the result of joint work between us, the material suppliers, and the customers. If even one of those elements is missing, it won’t fly.”
Legacy and flexibility in the same machine
Importantly, Coesia’s sustainability push does not rely on building entirely new equipment. Most of its existing machines can be adapted to run both traditional and sustainable materials.
“This is what we mean by sustainable innovation. We don’t keep adding new machines for every material change. We build flexibility into the system so that customers can evolve responsibly.”
Mirenda concluded with optimism, “Our sustainable solutions are no longer just a future possibility. They are real, they are ready, and they are running.”
Machinery on display at the expo
The company showcased a diverse range of hardware and software solutions across its two stands—one at Ipack-Ima and the other at the co-located Pharmintech exhibition.
At Ipack-Ima, key highlights included the FP EDGE with paper kit by ACMA; a new application of CodeVault software by Atlantic Zeiser; the KX803 tube filling machine by Citus Kalix, known for its precision and consistent quality; and the X85 Compact Spiral Conveyor with Condition Monitoring by FlexLink, a newly launched product. Also featured were FlexLink’s mixed palletising solution, which uses AI to optimize end-of-line logistics, and the PWR | Smartline Robotic Solution, offering high automation in a compact footprint.
At Pharmintech, the company presented several pharma-focused innovations, such as the newly launched PH-28 sachet machine by Enflex, designed for operational simplicity and reliability; FlexLink’s Pen Robotic Handling system; PAM by GF, which delivers uncompromising precision in pharmaceutical device assembly; and the BlisterJet Agile by HAPA, which enables agile, late-stage customization of pharmaceutical blister packs.
