Metsä Board, a leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboard and part of the Metsä Group, has partnered with the packaging design agency Futupack and the corrugated board converter Capertum to manufacture a corrugated mask bin for the specific removal of face masks
The bins’ design paid special attention to the materials used to produce the bin and the bin’s usability and disposability.
Futupack is a Finnish company which designs and implements sustainable packaging solutions.
“We wanted the mask bin to be as aesthetic as possible so that it could be placed easily into any indoor environment. The mask bin is delivered flat, and can be quickly assembled. In addition, full instructions on assembly for the consumers are printed on to the bin itself. When the mask bin is full, it is easy to close the lid, and the entire bin can be safely and hygienically disposed of with the incinerated waste,” said Jani Mäkipää, lead packaging engineer at Futupack.
The MetsäBoard Pro WKL 160 g/m2 coated white kraftliner was used as the top liner for the mask bin. The Finnish corrugated board converter Capertum printed an e-flute corrugated board on a silk screen. Thanks to the fresh fibres of the white kraftliner, the bin is light and robust, and its stylish, lightweight design makes it easy to place in various indoor public spaces.
“With urbanisation and a growing population, hygienic waste management solutions are becoming increasingly important. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought its challenges to waste management. We are happy to be able to offer a solution to the dilemma of mask waste,” said Ilkka Harju, packaging services director EMEA & APAC at Metsä Board who worked on the design project with Futupack.
