“National Conference on “Packaging ….Dynamic of the Path Ahead” to be held in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, March 27, 2019: The Apex body of the Packaging industries in India, Indian Institute of Packaging(IIP) – Hyderabad to organize its annual flagship program, a two day “National Conference on “Packaging ….Dynamic of the Path Ahead” here in the city on March 28 and 29th at ITC Kakatiya. The conference will be formally inaugurated tomorrow morning by Mr.Ajay Mishra, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Telangana State. Several other industry experts, office bearers of IIP and industry veterans will also grace the inaugural function. Disclosing this addressing a Press Conference here in the city today, Prof. N.C. Saha, Director of IIP, Mumbai along with his senior colleagues said the conference is organized in association with World Packaging Organization, The Asian Packaging Federation and ITC Paper Boards and Specialty Papers Division. Drinking straws have become environmental menace. They are found to be 11th most trash in the ocean. It takes hundreds of years, may be 200 or even more to decompose them as they are not recyclable. But, thanks to latest developments and advancements, plastic drinking straws are going to be passé soon. Some alternative and environmental friendly new age alternatives are being worked out in the west. Paper Straws are being used. Though their usage is limited as they can not have sharp edge to break open some tetra-packages, still they are the best alternatives and most preferred now. Paper Straws are coming in a very big way. Soon making them may become a household chore in India says a Packaging experts comprised of Prof. Dr. NC Saha, Vagish Dixit, Madhob Chakrborthy, Anil Reddy Vennum, Venkatraman, Shankar Patel, Sanjay Jaggi who spoke at a press conference organized by IIT at Hotel Kakatiya. The objective of the conference according to Dr. Saha is to give its participants the benefit and increase the awareness among the students, packaging professionals, exporters, packaging material manufacturers, the personnel in the Packaging developments, R & D in Packaging through this conference. India has over 22000 packaging industries. Most of them, almost 90 are MSMEs. Packaging industry is considered as the 9th top most industry in the world. Globally, the turnover of the Packaging industry is put at US $ 771 billion. Indian Packaging industry is the most vibrant industry which is evident from the fact that it is groing at the rate 11 to 13% while the global average growth rate is 3 to 5%. The annual turnover of the packing industry in India is US $ 24.6 billion. Telangana state is very significant market for Packaging Industry as the state boasts of export of bulk drugs, fresh fruits and vegetables. Pcakging plays a significant role in transporting these goods. The per capita consumption of Packaging in India is lower than the global average, many multinational companies are attracted to Indian market due to the strong and long term growth prospects. India’s Packaging industry has been developing due to the growth of food retail and pharmaceutical industries focusing on domestic demand and export, shared Dr. Saha. The four Packaging dynamics have become a focus point for the industries to concentrate on. These include Sustainability, Innovation, Technology and Trends. These are considered as the most critical in the current context. The upgraded Technology on automation has also become the focal point for the Industries. The packaging industry is an enormous economic generator. Statistics indicate the world packaging industry’s market value will reach $1 trillion by 2020 The few packaging trends in the coming years Dr. Saha says include: we will witness reduction in packaging materials—thinner, stronger, slighter and simpler. Other trends that will sweep across the packaging industry would be Smart Packaging. Rapid printing. There will be more use of RFID Technology for electronic tagging, tracking of stock. Future will also witness more recycling products; easier recycling of packaging, higher percentage recycled materials will be new in coming years. Biodegradable Packaging will be big on the anvil in future. These include, Plastics made from starch, more use of cardboard etc will be witnessed. Another equally and growing concern is to produce space-saving packaging. For example, growth of square cartons for drinks. Another new thing will be Customer Returns Packaging. That is to improve in re-seal pouches to keep pace with huge growth of online ordering. For example, clothes where customers often order different sizes to try on and then return some of the goods ordered. Packaging industry has fast embraced next generation technologies. Over the last fifty years Packaging World has been transformed into a new world with lot of innovations, materials and technologies. IIP has been witness to all these changes. The conference enables its participants to know latest packaging innovations, contributions made by the leading experts. Several Industry experts, keys players, policy makers, students and researchers, industrialists numbering 150 are expected to participate in the two day conference. This is the most looked after event. It is a knowledge sharing event. The participants get to know developments, trends in the industry and keep themselves abreast with the developments, informed Dr. Saha.