The third edition of World Food India 2024, held from 19 to 22 September at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, put the spotlight on sustainable packaging in food processing industries as flexible packaging is emerging as a key area. During a themed session organized by the ministry of food processing industries (MOFPI) on ‘Revolutionizing the Food Processing Machinery for an Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the panel discussed how India is emerging as a key supplier to the global processing and packaging industries.
Aimed at becoming the largest event for the food processing and allied sectors in India, the World Food India event showcased India’s rich and evolving culinary traditions. It encouraged investments in the country’s diverse food processing sector. Through several themed sessions, the ministry enabled new entrants, students, and small-scale manufacturers to attend panel discussions and Q&A sessions hosted by industry leaders and research specialists.
In one of the sessions, Amit Shah, joint president, flexible packaging business, UFlex, said the growth of the Indian economy has been enabled by flexible packaging. “It made the products available at an affordable price point. Shampoo, tea, oil, spices, or cosmetics available in five rupees or less itself speaks volumes at which flexible packaging is consumed in India.”
Quoting the iconic catchphrase, “With great power, comes greater responsibility,” Shah said flexible packaging has given this power along with the responsibility to collect, segregate, and ensure the packaging waste goes to the right recycling streams. He highlighted the ‘Atmanirbhar’ agenda for which the extended producer responsibility (EPR) has been mandated by the government. A policy that makes producers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products is among the sustainable driving forces of the Indian economy, he said.
Shah shared insights on emerging innovation and sustainable developments in flexible packaging for the processed food industry. “The flexible packaging industry is a key driver ensuring affordable packaged products for consumers. As we move toward circularity, our focus at UFlex is on sustainable packaging, integrating recycled content and innovative solutions to combat plastic waste. With our FDA and FSSAI-approved PET offering containing 90% PCR content and PE currently under approval, UFlex is moving beyond the conventional 3Rs approach to focus on circularity, with investments in advanced technologies for the manufacturing of PCR-based substrates.”
The session discussed processed food and hygiene in manufacturing. Representatives from dairy, bakery, and other food processing sectors said Indian manufacturers have enhanced efficiencies to a whole new level in comparison to the pre-Covid era.
The panel said packaging has been an enabler in product safety. While before the pandemic, manufacturers looked to cut costs in packaging, today’s scenario, however, dictates that better R&D and material science will spur the growth of the Indian processing industries as a global supplier.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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