• Costa and NAVI Co Global have partnered to trial paper-based mandarin packaging.
    Costa and NAVI Co Global have partnered to trial paper-based mandarin packaging.
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Following on from the launch of paper packaging for Costa’s premium table grapes, a new fully recyclable paper bag has been trialled for this season’s premium mandarins.

The packaging is the result of a partnership between Costa and Gilad Sadan, creative directive of NAVI Co Global, who was instrumental in the development of the paper-based grape punnets.

Sadan said the latest trial for mandarins was an evolution of the grape packaging and was the result of an idea from Craig Greenhalgh, national sales and operations manager for Costa’s citrus category.

“There’s really interesting cross pollination between the categories and we are using the learnings and applying them to different produce lines,” Greenhalgh said.

“For the mandarins we had to find ways to seal the bag, which needed to be a set weight. From a consumer point of view there’s convenience of having the mandarins in a bag, but with no environmental impact.

“Keeping very close to global and local consumer trends we use new product launches to tune into what consumers are looking for and what’s important to them. We received written feedback from consumers congratulating us on our packaging sustainability journey.”

While still in trial stages, Sadan said the new packaging had also opened up new conversations with retailers, and there was potential for use with other produce such as avocados.

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