Preeti Jaiswal and her team have developed a paper and foil-base laminate for sandwiches, burgers. “Paper side keeps it safe, and the foil side helps to retain the heat and flavours,” says Jaiswal. “Jupiter Laminators has started exports of this product.”

She bagged the Packaging Person of the Year at the Women to Watch Awards 2023 hosted by PrintWeek and WhatPackaging? magazines.

"Consistency in quality is the main production challenge for some specialised products. To ensure quality, our team follows a product specific development procedure, considering all-weather control process parameters and quality checks," adds Jaiswal.

Disha Chakraborty (DC): How is the coordination among packaging verticals like new product development (NPD), QC, QA and the production team?
Preeti Jaiswal (PJ): The product sample from the customer goes to the NPD team, which is further forwarded to QA to analyse the structure. The QA and NPD teams match these outcomes with the specification sheet. They prepare a specification sheet for production and set the parameters which the production team needs to follow.

DC: In what way?
PJ: QC team plays an important role in checking the quality at all stages of production. NPD takes complete responsibility for producing a trial batch involving inputs from the QA/QC/production team before moving ahead with commercial batch production. This trial batch is run on the customer's machines in the presence of the NPD/QA team.

DC: What are the tangible steps you have undertaken to improve quality?
PJ: We have fixed raw material (RM) specifications based on the product requirement. This ensures better transparency between us and the vendor to achieve a good quality end product and to eliminate rejections.

DC: Describe the process?
PJ: We have initiated stronger testing of any incoming RM, and the tested results are always compared with the technical data sheet (TDS) before finalisation of raw material procurement.

DC: What is the role of the QA team?
PJ: With the QA team, we have been setting the internal quality standards for the products after analysis to meet customer specifications.

DC: What about customer complaints?
PJ: We take corrective action on a RCA basis to strengthen communication till the bottom line. And, we began providing probable customer complaint information along with the specifications for awareness to eliminate repeated complaints/rejections. We are preparing a job-specific file system.

DC: How do you keep in touch with technological developments and new trends?
PJ: We are very well-connected with the leaders in the packaging industry through social media, memberships with several organisations such as IIP and IFCA, and other trade magazines.

Kaushik Nag, CEO, Flexibles & CPP, says, “Jupiter Group is working on innovative solutions to achieve sustainability and ensuring the delivery of quality products with more environmentally friendly options.”

DC: What sort of financial schemes and EMIs, and machine finance contracts have you implemented?
PJ: We have contracted vendors to calibrate our inline equipment and quality lab instruments. This exercise is monitored and controlled by the NPD, QC/QA team, and maintenance/production team members. It is a regular exercise and is completed in the stipulated time to ensure the quality of the end product.

DC: What is your take on sustainability?
PJ: Sustainability is the requirement of a human being to maintain the environment safe for current and future generations, considering economic viability, social equity, and nature care. However, the action plan may differ from organisation to organisation to achieve this sustainability goal.

DC: What about norms like EPR and single-use plastic ban?
PJ: Norms such as EPR and single-use plastic ban shall play an important role in everyone's life, and they will ensure the development of eco-friendly products as well. Ensuring these norms allow us to manage the waste or use the same to develop other usable products.

DC: Please share some of the interesting projects at Jupiter?
PJ: I have worked on many projects to optimise cost, recyclable product development, yield optimisation, and low-carbon footprint product development.

DC: Such as?
PJ: A printed 3D and 2D pouch. It is made using the same family structure (BOPP/natural CPP HS), which looks similar to Kraft paper and is 100% recyclable. This recyclable laminate replaces PET/PE structure and Kraft Paper/PET/PE structure.

DC: Anything else?
PJ: We have been consistently working on water-based ink developments for our current products to reduce the consumption of solvents and minimise the carbon footprints.

DC: How is the market shaping up for PP, PE and the barrier film?
PJ: As per the market research data, the global PE market size was USD 121.45 billion in 2021 and is expected to register a CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period. PE is a lightweight and durable thermoplastic found in everyday items, and is entirely recyclable.

DC: High demand?
PJ: Oh yes. The relatively high demand for PE can be attributed to the rising demand for various products and the need for plastic containers in various end-use industries. 

DC: What about PP?
PJ: PP is used in the form of CPP and BOPP films, rigid containers. Its market size is estimated to reach USD 31.4 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.3%. The market is projected to grow in accordance with the growth of the global packaging industry.

DC: Your take on BOPP?
PJ: BOPP films (above 15 micron thickness) are approved for direct food contact applications. The key applications include packaging for food products such as sauces, pet food, RTE or frozen meals, candies, chocolates, snacks, dry fruits and nuts, and confectionery products.