#MITOLOFAMILYFARMS #SUSTAINABLEPACKAGING #FRESHPOTATOES #PAPERBAGS #RECYCLING
Mitolo Family Farms, in collaboration with Coles and Detpak, has introduced Australia’s first curbside recyclable paper bag for fresh potatoes. This packaging innovation reduces plastic usage by 64% and builds on the company’s previous efforts to minimize plastic packaging. The development of this sustainable paper packaging is the result of meticulous work over three years, aiming to inspire similar initiatives across the fresh produce industry.
The new paper bags will contain Premium Gourmandine potatoes from Mitolo Family Farms. The reduction in plastic usage is a significant step toward sustainable supply chains, aligning with the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly options. The collaboration between Mitolo Family Farms, Coles, and Detpak demonstrates a commitment to responsible choices and addresses the role of packaging in consumer decisions.
Frank Mitolo, the Managing Director of Mitolo Family Farms, highlights the challenges faced during the development process: “This bag may sound like a simple solution, but it has taken immense work to ensure there is absolutely no compromise to the quality of the potatoes while allowing us to achieve the sustainability outcome we were seeking.” The paper bags were designed to maintain the product’s quality, considering factors such as lighting levels, tear-resistant breathing holes, sealing solutions, and bag strength.
Detpak, with its expertise in sustainable packaging solutions, employed patented technologies to assist Mitolo Family Farms, Coles, and the final customers in achieving efficiency and sustainability. Tom Lunn, the Manager of Innovation and Sustainability at the Detmold Group, emphasizes the importance of packaging in responsible consumer choices: “Consumers are becoming more and more conscious of making responsible choices when it comes to choosing which brands to buy from, and packaging plays a significant part in those decisions.”
Currently, the Gourmandine potatoes in the new paper packaging are exclusively available at Coles stores. Tim Nitschke, Coles’ Business Category Manager for Vegetables, expresses the company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing plastic packaging: “We are always looking for ways to reduce unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging in our stores, as well as reduce food waste, and this innovative new paper bag helps to achieve these sustainability ambitions.”
The collaboration between Mitolo Family Farms, Coles, and Detpak sets a remarkable example in the industry, demonstrating how sustainable packaging solutions can be developed and implemented. By introducing curbside recyclable paper bags for fresh potatoes, these organizations aim to inspire others to adopt similar practices, paving the way for a greener future.
