Packaging and paper giant Mondi enters bike packaging market

Mondi, a global specialist in packaging and paper, has announced its launched into the bicycle industry with a product – Protector Bags –  made from renewable materials, replacing plastic bubble wrap with a sustainable, recyclable, alternative.

Providing a new, sustainable, solution for Diamant, Germany’s oldest bike manufacturer, Mondi has enabled the replacement of plastic wrapping used around the handlebars of its Trek and Diamant brands.

• Diamant will reduce its plastic use by 16 tonnes every year – around 85% of its previous consumption – as well as saving costs in logistics and transportation.
• The pre-made paper bags do not require additional wrapping or taping, as they are ready to use with a tailored closure strip developed specifically for the bicycle industry.
• Created from two plies of paper, Mondi’s Protector Bags are strong and flexible, making them highly puncture-proof – and they protect the bikes during storage and transport with a softer interior glaze that is friction-resistant.
• Due to the air permeability of paper, the bags are also breathable. Additionally, handlebar grips made of rubber can emit moisture or gas that can evaporate easily with this new packaging.
• Storage and transportation costs have been significantly reduced: the Protector Bags are delivered flat, meaning more can be carried on a pallet, providing a more cost-efficient stacking compared to plastic bubble wrap reels that transport excess air.

Geoffrey Ziegahn, Senior Engineer, Diamant, says: “Our development team worked very closely with Mondi to create these uniquely tailored bags, which will provide increased protection for the handlebars of all mountain and trekking bikes of our brands Trek and Diamant during transportation. This is a major step towards our sustainability goals: we aim to only use recyclable packaging by the end of this year and replace all plastic and bubble wrap with paper-based solutions. Mondi’s careful and thorough approach to the challenge has demonstrated how we can achieve this – we are saving transportation costs, storage space and are contributing to a better world by making this big change.”

Nadja Nickel, Sales Manager Protector Bags, Mondi adds: “This is a fantastic example of how our EcoSolutions approach can work for customers in a wide range of industries, and we are delighted to make our first foray into bike packaging with our Protector Bags.”

Diamant’s bikes need to be protected from scratches during transport. While the previous plastic bubble wrap protected the product, Diamant was looking for packaging made from paper. By going onto the factory floor and assessing all areas of manufacturing, storage and transportation, we were able to develop a bespoke version of our existing Protector Bags, which are easily sealed on site, provide all the protection needed, save the customer money and help them achieve their sustainability goals.”

for those not familiar with Mondi; the business is a multinational packaging and paper group, employing some 26,000 people across over 100 production sites, in more than 30 countries, predominantly in Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. Group offices are located in Weybridge, United Kingdom and Vienna, Austria.

With the Cycling Industry increasingly looking to new way which enhance sustainability and reduce footprint, we’ve seen brands move to fully recyclable bike packaging, debut recyclable frame material, and introduce entire clothing ranges made from sustainable and recyclable materials, attracting award winning designers.