How Almameat improved meat packaging with Solidus fibre-based skin packaging

“A meat packaging solution is only viable if it delivers both strong technical performance and a credible sustainability improvement.”
Yolanda Echauri, Technical Purchasing Manager at Almameat

In today’s industry, meat packaging has become a strategic part of delivering quality. It must preserve freshness, extend shelf life, perform reliably on high-speed production lines and meet increasing sustainability expectations from retailers and consumers alike.

For Spanish meat producer Almameat, these challenges created an opportunity to rethink part of its packaging portfolio. The company wanted to reduce its dependence on plastic while maintaining the product protection, presentation and operational efficiency.

Together with Solidus, Almameat gradually expanded the use of fibre-based skin packaging across a growing number of product lines. The result is a meat packaging solution that combines sustainability with industrial performance and helps strengthen customer satisfaction.

Situation:
Finding a balance: more sustainable meat packaging without compromising quality

Almameat, part of Grupo Barberena, manages the entire beef and horse meat value chain under a fully integrated model, from livestock farming and live animal transport to slaughtering, cutting, processing and final packaged products. This end-to-end control allows the company to ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, food safety, traceability and product quality throughout the supply chain.

“Our main priorities are food safety, product protection and consistent quality,” explains Yolanda Echauri, Technical Purchasing Manager at Almameat. “The packaging must preserve the freshness of the meat, extend shelf life and ensure that the product reaches the customer in perfect condition.”

Like many meat producers across Europe, Almameat also faced growing pressure to reduce the environmental impact of its packaging. From a commercial perspective, retailer expectations also play an increasingly important role in packaging decisions. Eduardo Arrarás, member of Almameat’s International Commercial Department, highlights this market perspective: “Retailer expectations have a direct impact on our packaging decisions, particularly in terms of sustainability, plastic reduction and product presentation. Retail chains increasingly prioritise packaging solutions that are environmentally responsible while still ensuring product quality and shelf appeal. This has accelerated our transition towards more sustainable alternatives that are still robust enough for industrial use.”

Task:
The search for a reliable and circular packaging partner

Previous plastic-based solutions delivered good technical performance, but Almameat recognised opportunities, including the increasing pressure from retailers regarding sustainability, to further reduce plastic use and improve the circularity profile of its packaging without compromising operational reliability.

The company therefore set itself a clear objective: identify a packaging solution that could deliver the same high standards of food protection, shelf life and production efficiency while supporting its long-term sustainability ambitions.

Almameat was looking for a packaging partner that combined those capabilities and a thorough understanding of the meat industry. The solution needed to meet the growing sustainability expectations of the major retailers while remaining fully compatible with high-volume production lines. “The combination of product performance and sustainability was essential in our decision-making process. Neither aspect can be considered in isolation. A solution is only viable if it delivers both strong technical performance and a credible sustainability improvement,” says Eduardo Arrarás

Action:
Expanding fibre-based packaging through close collaboration with Solidus

After evaluating different options, Almameat chose to expand its collaboration with Solidus and progressively convert more product references to Solidus’ fibre-based skin packaging solution. Almameat had already introduced carton-based skin packaging for several product lines. Following positive experiences, the company decided to gradually expand the number of products packed in Solidus fibre-based skin packaging.

Choosing the right partner was about more than supplying packaging materials. Almameat looked for a company that understood the technical requirements of fresh meat packaging, could provide reliable supply and actively support product development. “We initially became aware of Solidus through market presence and existing developments in sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions. What made the difference was the combination of technical capability, innovation in skin packaging and a clear focus on sustainability, aligned with our own strategic direction,” says Echauri.

Throughout the evaluation and implementation process, Solidus worked closely with Almameat by supporting industrial trials, production testing and packaging optimisation. “Solidus’ in-house design team helped optimise both technical performance and retail presentation, ensuring the packaging integrated into existing production processes.”

The success of the project was also supported by close cooperation between Almameat’s Technical Purchasing and Commercial departments. While the purchasing team focused on technical performance, operational efficiency and product safety, the commercial team contributed its understanding of retailer expectations, market trends and consumer demands. This joint approach helped ensure that the packaging solution delivered not only industrial reliability, but also strong commercial value.

The fibre-based skin packaging solution enabled Almameat to reduce plastic dependency while maintaining the barrier properties, shelf life and production efficiency required for fresh meat applications. Solidus’ solution offered the right combination of strong product presentation, reduced plastic use and reliable technical performance, making it possible to meet both sustainability ambitions and industrial requirements.

Result:
Meat packaging that combines quality, reliability and sustainability

The collaboration has delivered benefits on several levels.

Most importantly, Almameat has experienced a more reliable packaging solution. According to Arrarás, packaging-related complaints have decreased, resulting in higher customer satisfaction. “With Solidus, our levels of complaints have decreased. Our customers expect a product that is consistent and does not create problems. We have been able to reduce packaging issues and improve customer satisfaction.”

Beyond improving reliability, the packaging continues to provide stable product protection and shelf-life performance throughout the supply chain, ensuring meat products reach retailers and consumers in optimal condition.

The fibre-based packaging has also strengthened Almameat’s sustainability strategy by reducing plastic use while maintaining premium product presentation. This is particularly important for retail customers, who increasingly value packaging that combines environmental responsibility with high-quality shelf appeal.

The application of Solidus’ skin packaging has also expanded beyond Almameat’s traditional beef products. Almameat has introduced the innovative packaging solution for its horse meat range produced in Mutiloa. Here, the packaging supports the quality and origin of the product while offering consumers a more attractive and sustainable presentation. It also reinforces the premium positioning of horse meat by combining tradition, innovation and respect for the product.

The Mutiloa foal meat range reflects Almameat’s ability to develop packaging solutions tailored to specialised, high-value products, building on the company’s expertise in the breeding and processing of foal meat. This is particularly relevant in a market where foal meat is highly demanded by customers, requiring packaging that meets the expectations of both retailers and end consumers.

Extending fibre-based skin packaging across different product categories demonstrates how the collaboration can support Almameat in combining sustainability, product differentiation and operational excellence across its portfolio.

Conclusion

The successful collaboration between Solidus and Almameat demonstrates that it is possible to reduce plastic, improve packaging consistency and continue meeting the demanding requirements of today’s meat industry.

Solidus fibre-based skin packaging enables Almameat to reduce plastic use while maintaining the product protection, shelf life and production efficiency required for fresh meat applications. And this all, combining sustainability, reliability and premium retail presentation.

Get in touch

Discover how Solidus can help you reduce plastic use with skin packaging while maintaining product protection, shelf life and operational efficiency. Our packaging experts are ready to support you in finding the right fibre-based meat packaging solution for your products. Contact us here.

Benefits of skin packaging for meat