Reduced environmental impact coupled with cost savings are the consequences of a successful R&D partnership between Stora Gruvön and McDonald's. This co-operation has lead to the increasing adoption of lightweight paper bags for French fries in many of the fast food chain's European outlets. Supplied by the Swedish paper mill, the bags weigh about 7 grams less than the cardboard containers they are replacing. This small difference adds up to thousands of tonnes less of paper waste per year.

All over the world, efforts are now under way to reduce the impact of packaging. This implies less waste, reduction in the use of natural resources and in less transportation, that contribute to less overall impact on the environment. In addition, this can also have the added benefit of lower costs for producer, distributor and user.
In many countries McDonald's uses paper and cardboard in the handling and serving of fast food. Its customers are increasingly aware of environmental matters. So it was a natural step for McDonald's to investigate the possibilities of reducing the use of packaging, without jeopardising quality or service. This initiative began several years ago.
"We are very keen to be pro-active and minimise our impact on the environment. We are continuously looking for ways to avoid, minimise and recycle our waste packaging", says Karen van Bergen, Director of Marketing and Communication for McDonald CE/CA.
One way is to change the design of the traditional and well-known cardboard container. Another would be to radically switch to the wider adoption paper bags. This switch, however, must be received in a positive way by customers and staff alike. The task was taken on by Stora Gruvön. Now the paper bags are being gradually introduced into various European countries.
"It was a challenge to develop the right paper quality, as we had to find a balance between partially competing technical demands", says Bo Cornéer, head of business development at the mill.
"The bag had to be lightweight, but at the same time, durable and stable. It also had to be grease-resistant. Furthermore, the paper must be suitable for printing."
The paper developed is a non-coated, homogeneous type that is reported to meet all international standards relating to foodstuff applications.
As it is to be used with foodstuff, it is made from virgin fibre. The bags are capable of being recycled. However, considering the fact that they are food containers, their utilisation for energy production purposes in waste furnaces is preferable. If the bags should end up on a landfill site, they decompose into natural components.

Caption: The paper bag for French fries weighs about 7 grams less then the cardboard container it is replacing. This adds up to thousands of tonnes less of paper waste per year in Europe.


For more information, please contact:
UNITED KINGDOM
Stora Paperboard UK Ltd
David Hargreaves, Manager
11th Floor, Newland House, 49 Mount Street
GB-Nottingham NG1 6HE
Tel. 0115 948 43 44; Fax: 0115 948 43 51
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BELGIUM:
Stora Belgium NV/SA
Frans op de Beeck, Sales Manager
Airport Business Center
Vuurberg 80, BE-1831 MACHELEN(Diegem)
Tel.: 027 15 05 00; Fax: 027 15 05 19

DENMARK
H.H. Andersen & Co. A/S
Adm. dir. Finn Hegner
Postboks 51, DK-2630 Tåstrup
Tel: 43 99 80 22; Fax: 43 99 63 99

FRANCE
Stora Paperboard France SA
4ème étage, 56 Quai de Dion-Bouton
FR-928 06 PUTEAUX CEDEX
Tel: 01 49 06 47 00; Fax: 01 49 06 47 89

GERMANY
Stora Paperboard Hamburg GmbH
Vertriebsleiter Heinrich Ohlendorf
Schillerstraße 44, D-227 67 Hamburg
Tel. 040 389 10 20; Fax 040 38 77 69

HONG KONG
Stora Hong Kong Ltd
Kenneth Nystén, Managing Director
GPO Box 789, HONG KONG
Tel: 023 12 12 23; Fax: 027 24 51 81

IRELAND
Stora Ireland Ltd
David Gorman, Managing Director
21 Clanwilliam Square, Grand Canal Quay, IRL-DUBLIN
Tel: 01 661 82 85; Fax: 01 661 82 91

ITALY
Stora Italia S.r.l
Arnaldo Ferrari, Direttore Generale
Via Volta 16, I-200 93 COLOGNE MONZESE (MI)
Tel. 02-253 83 63; Fax. 02-253 80 99

NETHERLANDS
Stora Nederland BV
Gerrit-Kees Brouwer, manager/Anneke Groen
Delflandlaan 15, NL-1062 EA Amsterdam
Tel: 020-408 93 93; Fax: 020- 408 93 00

SINGAPORE
Stora Singapore Pte Ltd
Kurt E Mönnich, Managing Director
1 Grange Road # 05-03
Orchard Building
SG-SINGAPORE 239693
Tel: 0838 98 66; Fax: 0838 98 77

SWEDEN
Stora Paperboard AB; Stora Gruvön
Bo Cornéer
Box 500, SE-664 28 Grums
Tel: +46 555 410 00; Fax: +46 555 415 45
e-mail:bo.corneer@stora.se;
internet: www.stora.se

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