Packaging summit ramps-up talks on sustainable options

The summit was inaugurated with the opening remarks by Amit Kale, AVP - sourcing and supply chain, Reliance Retail and the keynote address by Krishna Methekar, deputy director (west region), Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI). In his opening address, Amit Kale gave the reference to an Amitabh Bachchan song Ek Raheen Eer, Ek Rahen Beer. Kale requested the industry to be very careful, and not to cut off the branch that they are sitting on. That is, the branch of sustainability.

Methekar spoke about the state legislations and regulations that drive the Indian packaging business and latest norms. He gave insights about the regulatory authority’s approach in the packaging industry. He spoke about the advancement in the food grade materials and regulations that can be used for packaging of food products under the FSSAI’s packaging regulations. The difference between FSSAI Food Safety and Standards regulations (packaging and labelling) 2011 and 2018 was discussed.

Krishna Methekar is a huge advocate for inclusion of protein, vitamin, fats in the daily diet. Also, add green leafy vegetables, seasonal fruits. Don't make junk food like pizza as a part of your daily diet." 

It was followed by the next session on sustainability in flexible packaging by Ramesh Ramachandran, associate director - food packaging sustainability - R&D, AMESA and APAC, PepsiCo India Holdings. He has been decluttering the sustainable packaging space, plus framing and landing packaging sustainability strategies. Ramachandran spoke about the sustainable options in flexible films and what PepsiCo is doing in this area; emphasising on the end of life solutions. Ramachandran highlighted the hierarchy of waste management for post-consumer flexible films. 

This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Subhra Nandi, head packaging, Guiltfree Industries. The session focussed on recycling challenges and the role of EPR which covered a range of points such as brand owner’s responsibilities in reducing plastic usage in packaging. The panel consisted of; Amit Kale, AVP - sourcing and supply chain, Reliance Retail; Prasad Joshi, environment leader, Amazon India Operations and Tejashree Joshi, head environment and sustainability, Godrej & Boyce Mfg.  Godrej & Boyce has a target to recycle 25,000 MT of plastic over the next eight years.

The discussion covered points about increasing recycling targets from 2024 to control waste and the challenges to do so. The panellists spoke about how to achieve net zero and how it is not just about carbon emission. The session focused on the forecasting EPR norms in 2023 that might prove to be a game-changer for producers, converters and brand owners. 

The day one of the summit was concluded by a panel discussion which shed light on delivering sustainability in packaging and driving a circular economy. The panel consisted of packaging technologists like Gurpreet Bhimber, head packaging development and sourcing, Tata Consumer Products; Raju Kalgutkar, head of packaging, consumer products division, Piramal Pharma and Ram Babu, packaging lead, Cummins India.

The panellists discussed how important it is to consider packaging material innovation in driving a circular economy. The points were put forth about the challenges in package design and the role of R&D in innovation.