Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, commissioned a life cycle assessment (LCA) comparing its new ground-breaking paper pallet wrapping innovation, Advantage Stretch Wrap, with conventional plastic stretch film wrapping. An external consultancy conducted the full study, is ISO-compliant, and includes an external critical review. Based on the assumption that both materials are recycled at end-of-life, the findings showed that the paper-based pallet wrapping by Mondi has a lower climate impact as one of the LCA indicators.
The basis of comparison is the potential environmental impacts arising from wrapping one pallet. The LCA examined 16 indicators to understand potential trade-offs between the two materials. It covers all relevant life cycle stages, from raw material extraction, production up to the application on a pallet to the customer. In addition, the impact of the end-of-life stage is assessed.
Mondi’s stretch wrap possesses low GHG emissions than other stretch films
The LCA found that Advantage StretchWrap has 62% lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to virgin plastic stretch film and 49% lower GHG emissions compared to a plastic stretch film made with 50% recycled content. Advantage StretchWrap has a lower environmental impact than plastic in several categories, including climate change and fossil resource use. The plastic stretch film did perform better in some indicators, such as land use and freshwater eutrophication.
“Given the complexities of material choice, we see independent critical reviews as essential to ensuring LCAs that deliver objective and reliable results focusing on the environmental benefits of each material. At Mondi, we use these results as part of our decision-making process according to our MAP2030 sustainability commitments. Our customers value our attention to detail and how we partner using our EcoSolutions approach to develop solutions that are sustainable by design”, says Karoline Angerer, product sustainability manager Kraft Paper and Paper Bags, Mondi.
