The theme of the panel discussion was “Packaging in the Next ten Years” organized as part of the roadshow hosted by Messe Meunchen India, in collaboration with IPMMI, PHDC.
An illustrious panel comprising Top Management Leaders from Om Namkeens, Vindas Chemicals, Alpa Laboratories, Madhuri oil Refiners Pvt Ltd, Doshi Consultants Pvt Ltd, IIT Guwahati. Dr.R. Rangaprasad, Business Head Packaging 360 moderated the session.
Dr. Rangaprasad set the panel discussion by explaining the context of the theme & introduced the panelists.
Highlights of the narrative & insights shared by the experts are presented below:
Mr. Anurag Bothra, Managing Director, Om Namkeens –
Indore is also known as Namkeen Capital of India, many combinations and varieties of Namkeen are made in Indore. Due to globalization and E-commerce consumer is more exposed to new products and packages available across the globe. Package is the first impression which attracts the customer saying “PICK ME UP” and after buying customer will taste the product and re-buy / promote it. 5 Rs selling price sachets comes under single use plastic but due to cost constraint using biodegradable packaging is not possible for namkeen packing. All industry has to unitedly decide to stop 5 Rs packets and increase minimum pack weight. Bulk packaging should be promoted so that package size will increase and it can be collected for recycling. Namkeen is exported to many countries and they have different rules for information required on packages. Every brand is making 30-50 kinds of varieties and 3 to 6 fill weighs packets. So every industry is making many varieties of laminate. This can be avoided by using digital information QR code and minimum colour printed laminate which will give information of brand. QR code and labels will give all information of ingredient and nutritional value like information which varies for every product. Namkeen needs high moisture, oxygen barrier properties of packaging material otherwise we will be able to deliver the product with same crispy taste. So newly develop compost able, degradable packaging material must carry all these properties to give desired shelf life of Namkeen.
Dr Darshan Kataria, MD Vindaas Chemicals
Pharma is strictly regulated industry which deals with alive animate as well as inanimate world, and all packed medicines must comply to 3 major responsibilities. First is to keep the product safe and stable till consumption. Second is it should be user friendly. Third is its should comply all regulatory requirements. Geriatric and
child proof packaging is near future. Indian industry is packing medicines in 5/10/15/30 tablets packets but in USA therapeutic medicines are packed in bulk form and supplied to medical stores. As per doctor’s prescription, suppose any antibiotic medicine is prescribed 2 BD for 3 days and vitamin tablet 1 OD for 15 days then pharmacist will give 6 antibiotic tablets and 15 vitamin tablets in personalized packet to that patient. Wastage of expired medicines, packaging cost, generation of plastic waste can be avoided by bulk packing.
Mr. Jai Desai, Madhuri Oil Refiners
In earlier years edible oil was sold loose, people were also buying oil in steel kettle; it was refill and reusable form of packaging which we are discussing in present era. It was banned by government to avoid adulteration at end selling point. Tin packs were introduced to avoid adulteration. But availability of Tin cans, stability, hygienic was not that great in those years. When plastic came in, it was a wonderful solution for edible oil industry. Scalability, availability, handling, transport-ability, storage, food grade property, print-ability, various attractive formats and designs finally cost all demands of edible oil are fulfilled by plastic as a packaging material. Madhuri Oil is doing many innovations like 15 KG bucket and glass bottle for 1 liter packing. PET bottles, jerry cans and 15 liter packs are collected and recycled almost to 90% from the product going into market. But main problem is 1 liter packets in flexible packing material, which is hardly collected from end user. For our next generation and to save our earth, all brands has to come together and stop 1 liter sale in flexible packs as 1 liter pack in PET bottle are available in market. If government wants to stop these packs without giving if and buts rules they should clearly give mandate to stop 1 liter oil in pouch forms.
Paresh Chawla, COO Alpa Laboratories
For pharma industry product stability is of utmost important, medicine has to deliver with same properties and same results till expiry date. Before any pharma product actually launched in market it has to be undergone through various tests and passed all necessary compliances. Medicines are supplied to richest as well as poorest countries and kept is highest-lowest temperature and humidity conditions. So right packaging is very much important for pharma industry. Though PVC is known as bad for food industry to avoid cross contamination and individual protected packing PVC blister packing is useful for pharma industry. In coming years except bulk packing there is no alternative for PVC blisters. Smart packaging with RFID and NFC codes are coming in market. Patient will get message on his mobile to take the medicine and patient/doctor and medicines will be connected with each other with smart packs. Counterfeiting of some brands can also be prevented by smart packaging.
Dr Bharat Doshi , MD Doshi Consultants Pvt Ltd
Doctors prescribe medicine with strong belief that it will give desired result for diseases. Safety of product, safety of human being and sustainability of packaging material are 3 important criteria for designing and selection of packaging material as well as packaging machine. While designing any facility of medicine manufacturing, companies are looking for classified areas, all kinds of controlled procedures, plant compliances is one part. Manufacturing of product is second part. Packaging / storage / transport / retail sale is third important part. 21CFR, SCADA, Industry 4.0, IOT all such regulations are strictly followed by Pharma industry. First Industrial Revolution (Industry 1.0) in the 18th century where, instead of items being produced by basic means, processes were invented and allowed items to be produced by machines. The second Industrial Revolution is usually dated between 1870 and 1914. Around 1970 the Third Industrial Revolution involved the use of electronics and IT (Information Technology) to further automation in production. Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing the way companies manufacture, improve and distribute their products. Manufacturers are integrating new technologies, including Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing and analytics, and AI and machine learning into their production facilities and throughout their operations. Packaging machine manufacturers must keep them updated and design machines to comply these demands.
Prof. Vimal Katiyar, IITG
Prof Katiyar Highlighted the concept of biobased, Biodegradable & compostable plastics vis-à-vis conventional petrochemicals-based commodity plastics used in packaging applications. IIT G has set up state- of- the- art Center of Excellence for the development of biobased biopolymers suitable for industrial applications. Prof. Katiyar is keen to have industry in MSME sector to make a visit & see the facilities & explore collaboration opportunities in packaging. Prof. Katiyar reiterated that there are still many challenges in the journey to develop biopolymers which would be good alternatives to conventional plastics like LDPE, PET etc.
Company Press Release
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