Cardboard trays, paper substrates and cellulose mesh are some of its sustainable solutions
Málaga-based tropicals specialist Montosa has reduced its use of plastic packaging by 90 per cent in the last three years by substituting it for cardboard, paper and cellulose mesh.
Cutting plastic usage has been one of the company’s priorities for many years. With France as its main export destination, it had already adapted in 2022 to the French ban on plastic packaging for fresh fruit, and has increased its commitment with more sustainable formats in other markets.
Marta Santos, manager of Montosa’s quality department, commented: “Egg cartons, mesh bags, flowpacks, trays, boxes, tie labels, baskets… all these formats that used to be made of plastic are now produced from cardboard, cellulose and/or paper, 100 per cent biodegradable and often endorsed by compostable certification.
“Both our clients and our consumers have given a very positive rating to our sustainable packaging. That’s why we are now going one step further to offer these solutions in other markets, not just in France. Obviously we always adapt to the needs of each individual client to avoid any increase to the final retail price of the product.”
Having started with its avocado and mango packaging, the company’s next challenge is to source more sustainable packaging for pre-prepared guacamole. There are several R&D projects currently underway to find alternatives to plastic that not only guarantee food safety and the shelf-life of the guacamole but are also more efficient to recycle.
While waiting for these new advances to materialise, Montosa said it has already taken steps to improve its packaging for the prepared product. Two of the company’s ideas are to significantly reduce the weight of the plastic tub and to provide all the ingredients on a cardboard tray so buyers can make their own fresh guacamole.
