’The dynamic nature of skateboarding aligns with the strength and versatility of our containerboard.’
Cardboard Mini Ramp
Interview
with
Bettina Pokorny
Senior Communication & Marketing Manager
Containerboard materials
Mondi
December 2025
Who in Mondi’s marketing department skates?
Not sure about the marketing department, but some Mondi employees do skate. E.g. when we were filming in Swiecie, a local co-worker came by to watch the filming and to meet & greet Julia Brückler, the Olympian skateboarder we partnered with for this project.
If the idea of building a mini ramp out of containerboard material did not come from the marketing department, whose idea was it?
Recognising the appeal of skateboarding as a fast-growing global sport, with a demographic matching our current and potential key audiences, we saw this as a creative and eye-catching medium with a partnership potential. The dynamic nature of skateboarding aligns with the strength and versatility of our containerboard. The shape of a skateboard half- pipe mirrors the fluid movement of the fluting, symbolising the robust and resilient qualities inherent in our advanced corrugated packaging solutions. So, we set ourselves the goal – working with our talented Mondi Świecie team – to build the world’s first containerboard halfpipe strong enough for a professional skateboarder to shred on. Olympic athlete Julia Brückler loved the idea and joined the initiative.
Were there any initial concerns about the project from a material and branding perspective?
From a strength perspective, we knew that the material would be strong enough. It was more about making sure that the surface would fit the needs of the skater and how we could make it work for the tricks to be performed without any metal parts being used, as they usually go on the edges of the ramp. It was cool to see how Julia gave her professional expertise and input and how our paper experts in Poland made it work, all together. Like many manufacturing businesses, we have a very real challenge with recruiting the next generation of people into our locations and we need to address this risk to our business proactively. That’s why, with a digital-first approach, we set out to create a pack of engaging and edutainment-focused content that quickly and easily explains both what containerboard is and why it is relevant.
Your mini ramp consists of 100% cardboard? You have not used any adhesives or glue?
Yes, our mini ramp is made entirely from containerboard, but to ensure the layers are securely bonded, we used a starch-based adhesive. This eco-friendly glue, derived from natural sources like maize and potatoes, is standard in corrugated fiberboard production. It’s not only sustainable but also plays a crucial role in enhancing the strength, stiffness, and surface quality of the paper, making it ideal for this type of innovative application.
’Like many manufacturing businesses, we have a very real challenge with recruiting the next generation of people’
From the pictures and video, I noticed that the coping is missing. I am sure this could have been realized with the same material. Any reasons it was not added?
Julia Brückler, the Olympic skateboarder we teamed up with for this project, recommended we either have this in the original material or not at all, and as we did not want to have any parts that are not made of paper, we decided not to have one at all.
What are some scenarios where a containerboard mini ramp is more suitable than made from hardwood?
We wanted to do something unexpected that would attract attention and charge the Mondi brand in a positive way that would appeal to various audiences. Our main thought was more a paper ramp compared to one made of plastic or concrete or whatever else material they are usually made out of.
What sort of feedback have you received on your ramp project? Anything that you did not expect?
The feedback on our ramp project has been overwhelmingly positive. Many people appreciated the surprise factor of seeing a traditional manufacturing business like ours embracing a fresh, human-centered approach to marketing. Our focus on showcasing real employees, rather than models, resonated strongly, with colleagues expressing pride in participating and external audiences enjoying the authentic representation. The campaign effectively highlighted the technical aspects of our product while making it relateable, which was a key driver of its success.
Where will we see more containerboard applications in our everyday lives in the future? Can you give us some actual examples?
You can see them in your everyday life everywhere already as the demand for sustainable packaging solutions keeps increasing. We see some new interesting applications emerging, as these recent case studies show: Hug&Hold – sustainable alternative to plastic shrink wrap, where the top clip is made from corrugated board which is made out of containerboard and the sleeve is made of 100% kraft paper. Collaboration to replace PolyStyrene (EPS) and lead the change on white goods packaging.