A plastic-reducing alternative to potato packaging has been introduced by Finnish Tuorekartano Oy when it recently launched its special potatoes in paperboard packaging. Tuorekartano Oy’s premium quality La Ratte potatoes will now be packed in easily recyclable and biodegradable packaging made of a lightweight and durable paperboard produced by Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group. The paperboard is ideally suited to protect the potatoes from damage and sunlight. The small package size will also help to reduce food waste.
“Tuorekartano is a company committed to Agenda 2030 and Commitment 2050 and has set itself clear sustainability targets. Plastic-free packaging, such as La Ratte cartons, is part of these goals. We have already reduced the amount of plastic in our packaging materials by 25%,” says Kari Kastari, chief executive officer of Tuorekartano Oy.
The packaging is made of lightweight MetsäBoard Prime FBB EB paperboard, which is made from pure fresh fibers and is suitable for direct contact with food. The dispersion coating of the board improves the moisture and grease resistance of the board, and the packaging can be easily recycled and is also suitable for home composting.
“Environmental issues are important to us, which is why we are constantly improving our operations and production processes to make them more environmentally friendly. It is therefore important that the materials we use are recyclable and suitable for food contact. Metsä Board’s paperboard meets our requirements both in terms of the environment and providing excellent printability,” says Kalle Hurttila, production director at Hurtti-Paino Oy, the producer of the La Ratte packaging.
Metsä Board is a European producer of premium fresh fiber paperboards and a forerunner in sustainability. It produces premium lightweight folding boxboards, food service boards, and white kraft liners for consumer goods packaging as well as retail-ready and food service applications.
Metsä Board works together with its customers on a global scale to innovate solutions for better consumer experiences with less environmental impact. The pure fresh fibers Metsä Board uses are a renewable resource, traceable to origin in sustainably managed northern forests. The company aims for completely fossil-free mills and raw materials by 2030.
The global sales network of Metsä Board supports customers worldwide, including brand owners, retailers, converters, and merchants. In 2019, the company’s sales totaled EUR 1.9 billion (approximately Rs 16,555 crore), and it has approximately 2,400 employees. Metsä Board, part of Metsä Group, is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
