Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Global packaging and paper pioneer Mondi has officially inaugurated a cutting-edge paper machine at its flagship Štětí mill, reinforcing the company’s position as one of Europe’s leading suppliers of sustainable kraft paper solutions. The inauguration, which gathered over 130 customers, suppliers, and industry partners from across the world, highlighted Mondi’s commitment to innovation, circularity, and long-term collaboration in the packaging value chain.
The machine, which began operation in December 2024, represents one of the most significant modernisations in the region’s paper industry in recent years. It is engineered to meet the rapidly expanding need for paper-based flexible packaging, fueled largely by global e-commerce growth and brand owners’ increasing shift towards renewable, recyclable materials.
Designed to deliver a wide portfolio of high-performance kraft papers, the new production line is capable of manufacturing approximately 210,000 tonnes per year. These grades include high-strength and high-porosity papers used in industrial packaging, construction applications, and fast-growing e-commerce channels.
The enhanced machine supports packaging formats such as form-fill-seal bags, pinch-bottom sacks, and specialty barrier papers, reflecting the evolving needs of brands and converters seeking alternatives to plastics. With fibre-based packaging gaining momentum across Europe, the expanded capacity strengthens Mondi’s ability to guarantee supply, consistency, and product quality at scale. This development aligns with the company’s strategy to ensure all Mondi packaging and paper solutions are “sustainable by design.”
The paper machine inauguration is the centerpiece of a broader €400 million investment into the Štětí mill — one of Mondi’s largest kraft paper production facilities globally. The investment not only increases capacity but also enhances operational reliability, energy efficiency, and the mill’s overall resilience in serving global markets.
By rebalancing production across its kraft paper network, Mondi can now offer customers a more comprehensive spectrum of specialty kraft papers, including functional barrier grades designed to replace plastic in specific flexible packaging formats. The upgrade also supports the company’s focus on renewable raw materials and recyclability, key drivers of the paper industry’s transition toward a circular economy.
The inauguration event underscored Mondi’s emphasis on collaboration and long-term value creation. Customers and industry stakeholders were invited to explore the new machine through guided tours, gaining a first-hand view of its technological sophistication and operational scale.
In his remarks at the event, Andrew King, Mondi Group CEO, emphasised the strategic and symbolic importance of the new equipment:
“This is more than a paper machine; it is a symbol of what we can achieve when innovation, sustainability, and teamwork come together. It enables us to continue delivering great service to our customers and the high-quality packaging materials they want to help them achieve their sustainability goals.”
His statement echoed the central theme of the day: technological investment as a pathway to achieving global sustainability ambitions.
During the event, Miroslav Zitka, Managing Director of the Štětí mill, and Vladimir Krajci, Project Director for Mondi Kraft Paper, shared insights into the multi-year journey that led to the machine’s successful start-up.
They highlighted:
Their discussion resonated strongly with attendees, many of whom operate in the same fast-changing landscape where reliability, agility, and sustainability are core requirements.
Adding value to the inauguration, Mondi hosted a panel discussion that brought together customers, machine technology providers, and industry analysts. Key themes included:
Panelists agreed that the industry’s future depends heavily on partnerships between manufacturers, converters, retailers, and technology developers — a principle Mondi has increasingly embedded into its long-term strategy.
The inauguration closed with networking sessions and mill tours, marking a proud moment for Mondi employees and partners who contributed to the project. The new paper machine is expected to serve markets across Europe, the Middle East, and other global regions, supporting customers’ needs for both performance and sustainability.
As demand for renewable, high-quality kraft paper continues to rise, Mondi’s investment positions the company — and the broader industry — for a more circular, fibre-based future.
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Tags: fibre-based packaging trends, high-performance kraft paper, paper and packaging innovation, paper machine inauguration, recyclable packaging materials, sustainable packaging Europe
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