ITALY (News release) - Mondi, a leading global packaging and paper manufacturer, and Fiorini International, a leading Italian packaging converter, have developed Italy's first 100% recyclable paper rice bag for Italian rice producer Riseria Vignola Giovanni. Made of Mondi Advantage Smooth White Strong paper, the new 'Rice Bag' will support Vignola's sustainability aims to reduce use of plastic packaging.

The 'Rice Bag' was designed as part of Mondi's customer-centric EcoSolutions approach to help customers achieve their sustainability goals while meeting technical requirements such as food shelf life preservation and regulations. Vignola showed a clear commitment to use more environmentally sustainable packaging with their purchase of a new form-fill-seal machine suitable for paper-based bags.

"Our fifth-generation family company has long been an innovator in Italy. In 1971, we were one of the first to pack rice in cardboard boxes, and in the 1980s we were among the first to adopt the vacuum packaging system. Now we are pleased to be leading the market once again with this fully recyclable paper rice bag for our 500g and one kilo packages, giving consumers the sustainable, recyclable packaging they increasingly prefer." Giovanni Vignola, Managing Director, Vignola

Pietro Fiorini, Sales Director, Fiorini International says: "The Rice Bag for Vignola is our second successful collaboration with Mondi in the past two years. Having partnered with Mondi to develop a fully recyclable paper bag with a window for an Italian pasta company last year, we did not hesitate to recommend Mondi to Vignola. Mondi has the expertise and capability to work with us on sustainable packaging solutions that not only meet food industry guidelines for freshness and shelf life but is also user-friendly."

The 'Rice Bag' developed for Vignola is made of Mondi Advantage Smooth White Strong 100 gsm, a speciality kraft paper with the right combination of high strength, superior printability and guaranteed runnability on filling machines. It is 100% recyclable and suitable for waste paper recycling streams even in countries with the highest recycling requirements.

Massimiliano Scotta, Head of Sales Region South & Americas, Mondi, adds: "Our EcoSolutions approach goes to the heart of trying to reduce less sustainable packaging with more bespoke solutions that meet our customers' needs. We're delighted that our continuing cooperation with Fiorini is now supporting Vignola's vision to produce more sustainable packaging. With a production volume of 50 million kilos of rice per year, Vignola has a competitive market presence as well as a track record of leading the way in innovative packaging. We're pleased to see these developments in Italian food packaging and are ready to support customers with packaging solutions that are sustainable by design."