Ahead of this year's Specialty Papers Asia 2025, we spoke with Marco Macoratti, Head of Sustainable Packaging Solutions & Circularity for Retail brands at Mondi, to get a sneak peek of what we can expect from his presentation on 'Re/Thinking Paper Untold perspectives of a 2000 years' old innovation of the future' Here's what he had to say…






Q1: Hi Marco, we're thrilled to have you join us in Shenzhen this year! You’ll be sharing your insights on the topic, "Re/Thinking Paper: Untold Perspectives of a 2000-Year-Old Innovation for the Future." Can you tell us more about what inspired you to choose this topic?

Paper is the 2000 years old innovation of the future that deserve the attention of our partners and consumers as well. Nature offers a unique renewable resource which - combined with the rapidly evolving technology and the human innovation spirit - can deliver unprecedent opportunities for Responsible Consumption and Production,  also in new applications typically served solely by polymers-based solutions.

Q2: In your work with paper, packaging, and sustainability, what have been some of the key challenges you've faced?

The first challenge is in comparing paper to plastic from the technical and commercial point of views, which can be addressed properly in collaboration with different decision-makers within the customers’ organization and with the consumers too, who feel empowered through their ultimate choice. The second challenge is related to persistence of the linear business model we are long used to go with, while the recycling loop of paper can inspire circular business models that have proven to deliver economic value and sustainable impact as well.

Q3: Are there any emerging trends in the paper or packaging industry that you believe could significantly reshape the market in the coming years?

We are experiencing a period of radical and systemic change in the way we think about packaging. Thus, the packaging marketplace will continue to be very dynamic in the next years, through the large financing from investors in the green transition, technology advancements to exploit the potential of fibers, new materials developed by start-ups to be used in combination, and the purpose and motivation of people to create something for a better future. The fuel that moves of this change is just one: “Sustainability never ends, Innovation never stops”.

Q4: What are you most looking forward to at Specialty Papers Asia this year?

To feel “The Audacity of Change” of both the Industrial and the Consumer Packaging industry in seeing through the challenges, the opportunities to differentiate, to grow, to create value, while making a sustainable impact in collaboration with the Paper industry.