Boxed for Brilliance: India’s Packaging Sector Wraps Up Asia’s Sustainability Lead

India's packaging industry is transforming at an extremely rapid pace, leading the way in Asia's food system transition towards sustainable ones. International packaging specialist Chakravarthi AVPS, Ecobliss India Managing Director and Chairman, identified the potential in the industry in a keynote address during a UNIDO-hosted global roundtable in Bangkok.

Reframing Packaging as a Value Investment

Chakravarthi drew attention to the fact that India loses as much as 30 percent of its harvest due to inadequate cold-chain infrastructure and packaging.

Policy-makers were tasked with thinking of packaging in terms of investment rather than cost, aimed at keeping food fresh.

The panel put in the limelight the role of packaging in preventing food waste and ensuring food security.

Innovations for Sustainable Packaging

India is making strides in active and smart packaging technology for dairy and perishables.

Green products produced from banana fiber, areca leaf, and sugarcane bagasse are gaining momentum.

Government-led traceability pilots for seafood and plant exports are streamlining supply chains.

Global Sensitization and Industry Collaboration

The roundtable featured keynote speakers from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) and Wageningen University & Research.

A joint research report, "Navigating the Food Loss and Waste Paradox," was issued, outlining means to ensure sustainable packaging.

India's pack innovation leadership converged with more than 15 countries as participators, whose stakeholders recognized this in large numbers.

Since sustainability takes the center stage, India's packaging sector is ready to set new standards across Asia.

Sources: UniIndia, The Packman, IMAP.