Mondi, the international packaging and paper group, and WWF, one of the world's largest conservation organisations, formed a three-year strategic partnership in February this year that focuses on increasing environmental stewardship in the packaging and paper sectors. In addition to learning more about Mondi's innovative products, visitors to this year's event can learn more about this Partnership.

Mondi has been exhibiting at Interpack for many years as it is an important forum for connecting with new and existing customers and showcasing innovative product solutions. A number of new innovative product solutions will be announced at the trade show and Mondi's booth can be found in Hall 9, booth A24/B23.

One of the centrepieces of Mondi's 400 square meter booth will be a striking five meter giraffe. It will be made from corrugated material and visitors will be able to walk up to the booth's first floor to see the giraffe's head while learning more about Mondi, including some of the key themes that it will be working on together with WWF.

"Interpack is a great opportunity to showcase the key themes the partnership will be working on," says Rod Taylor, Director, WWF International Forest Programme. "The partnership aims to demonstrate how a packaging and paper company can reduce its impacts on natural ecosystems, climate and water and why it makes good business sense to do so."

"We are delighted to be partnering with WWF as we focus on ecosystems and continue to reduce our footprint. Interpack presents an opportunity to share information about the partnership, as we embark on this journey together with WWF," says Neil Burns, Mondi Group head of sustainable development.

The partnership will focus on minimising the impacts of Mondi's operations on forests, climate and water, and encouraging sustainable practices in the industry. The work programme will cover three main areas, namely:

• Ecosystem Stewardship - building on the successful Mondi Wetlands Programme in South Africa, this work will focus on protecting high conservation value ecosystems in Russia and other regions and increasing the value and resilience of multi-functional production landscapes in South Africa.
• Manufacturing Stewardship - further reducing the water and climate footprint of Mondi's operations and promoting resource efficiency, recycling and longevity of products, including the cascading use of wood and forest products where appropriate.
• Product Stewardship - further enhancing the environmental performance of Mondi's products through; among others - credible certification and efficient life-cycle use of materials in their paper and packaging products.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

About Mondi
Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, employing around 24,000 people in production facilities across 30 countries. In 2013, Mondi had revenues of €6.5 billion and a ROCE of 15.3%. The Group's key operations are located in central Europe, Russia, the Americas and South Africa.
 
The Mondi Group is fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain - from the management of its own forests and the production of pulp and paper (packaging paper and uncoated fine paper), to the conversion of packaging paper into corrugated packaging, industrial bags, extrusion coatings and release liner. Mondi is also a supplier of innovative consumer packaging solutions, advanced films and hygiene products components.

Mondi has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI. The Group’s performance, and the responsible approach it takes to good business practice, has been recognised by its inclusion in the FTSE4Good Global, European and UK Index Series (since 2008) and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007.