Mondi has unveiled a laser-marked flexible packaging concept designed to help brands combine greater packaging flexibility with improved recyclability. The solution, which recently won the German Packaging Award 2026 in the Sustainability category, pairs a corrugated outer box with recyclable flexible packaging for eCommerce and bag-in-box applications.
Instead of using conventional decorative printing, the concept applies artwork directly onto the flexible packaging during converting through laser marking. The approach eliminates printing plates, enabling faster artwork updates, easier personalization, and shorter lead times — benefits that can help brands respond more quickly to new product launches and changing consumer preferences.
The technology can be applied to several flexible formats, including Mondi’s re/cycle StripPouch and re/cycle FlexiBag, while supporting design for recycling through simplified material structures. Depending on the application, the packaging can also incorporate bio-based feedstocks or post-consumer recycled content.
According to Mondi, internal Product Impact Assessment results indicate significant CO₂ reductions for a bio-based laser-marked StripPouch compared with a conventional fossil-based printed and laminated stand-up pouch.
“Customers are under growing pressure to meet sustainability targets while managing increasingly complex product portfolios and changing consumer demands. This concept supports circularity with the use of bio-based materials and greater artwork flexibility in a single solution, helping brands respond more quickly to market requirements while progressing towards their circularity goals,” said Jens Koesters, Manager Technical Service, R&D and Innovation Mondi Consumer Flexibles.
The company is now exploring commercial implementation of the concept across several markets, including home and personal care.
