Specializing in the production of retail packaging for non-food items Globe typifies India’s most successful companies. In 2017 they opened a brand-new production facility in Mumbai to meet the increased demand for Indian packaging.
The packaging segment in India is an amalgamation of both organized and unorganized performers. In India, a large portion of product that households buy for daily use is packaged in plastics. Plastics are used profoundly for packaging due to innovative visual appeal for customer appeal and convenience. As plastics possess versatile qualities it can help us do more with less. Furthermore, they enhance the hygiene quotient and shelf-life of the products. Thus, plastic packaging enables shipping more products with less carbon footprint, reduced fuel consumption and overall transportation footprint.
Further, India is emerging as the most preferable location for retail outlets, has the fastest growing retail sector and the arrival of E-commerce is expanding speedily in this area and bringing an uprising to the retail sector. This rapid growth offers huge prospective for future growth of retailing in India which in turn is pushing growth of the packaging sector. With a viewpoint of health and environment friendliness, the growth in the packaging industry has been leading to greater specialization and sophistication amongst all the market players.
Challenges
Whilst there are many usages and benefits of plastics it consistently gets branded as a polluting material.
However, there are quite a few challenges and risks. High inflation rate and rising prices, lack of skilled workforce, growing environmental concern, effective recycling of mixed plastic waste and plastic recovery are some of the issues plaguing the industry. Also, availability of raw material is a major challenge. Also, volatility in the prices of crude oil and exchange rate has led to an increase in price pressure and lower profits in spite of high volume realizations.
Reduce – Re-Use -Recycle
The collection and segregation of decomposable waste is one of the key stages in taking this further. It is crucial to save the recyclable waste material from going to the waste disposal sites and using up landfill space. Actual recovering at source for recycling could make cost-effective use of such material. This will protect national resource and also save the cost and efforts to organize of such waste.
Environmental Concerns
Apart from playing an increasing role in packaging and consumer products, plastics also are considered to be a major threat to the environment and public health. Going forward, educating the Indian nation on recycling and re-use of plastics must be the foremost step towards sustainability and a better packaging solution. If plastics can be collected and disposed of or recycled as per laid down guidelines/rules then the issue of plastic waste will disappear.
Dealing with the environmental issues has been the focus of many European countries. When visiting Germany, Holland and Denmark, collection sites and recycling centers can be seen in every town and city. The people who live in these regions understand the importance of recycling and separate their waste to ensure all packaging can be reprocessed or reused. Here in India we must learn from their example and introduce education to our children to ensure good environmental practices are in place for the future. To enable this industry groups, politicians, educationalists and the media must work together to deliver a cleaner, tidier and more environmental India.
Future Opportunities & Make in India
The growth in the plastic packaging industry in India will be majorly impacted by government initiatives such as “Make in India” as the Government’s current campaign on “Make in India” which intends to turn the country into a universal manufacturing center, will lead to substantial growth of packaging industry.
Responding to this, Globe Print N Pack opened a brand-new manufacturing facility in 2017. The buildings house the latest box making production machinery. The factory can produce up to 1 million boxes per day. Within the plant Globe operates a Komori 6 colour printing press which converts folding box board, polypropylene and PET substrates.
The investment delivers a fast turnaround of orders with excess capacity to cope with increased demand for high quality packaging.
International Collaboration
Identifying the need to provide an international solution to India’s FMCG companies Globe Print N Pack have partnered with European packaging leader Bell Packaging Limited to provide a one stop shop for international brands delivering consistent high-quality packaging to any location throughout the world.
Under Globes guidance Bell Packaging have a production facility located close to the new Globe factory to provide Indian made packaging for this region. Bell and Globe have also opened a promotional and point of sale company EML Viscom who provide in store displays for many of India’s leading retail brands.
Conclusions
An organized development addressing cost effective plastic processing, along with rationalizing operations of recycling of plastics will pave a path for growth of this industry. The Indian Packaging Industry is making significant impact to the growth of various key sectors in the national economy. Packaging is emerging as the most important and fast-growing segment catering to all verticals of the industries.
While this offers large opportunities for the industry to grow, there is a need for that to happen in a very symphonic and supportable manner with due regard to environmental concerns. This can be facilitated by greater focus on R & D and innovations, which is the driving force behind the ongoing success of Globe Print N Pack.
The Packaging Industry is projected to grow at a very fast rate with the major applications being in food, textiles, beverage and consumer goods. Several factors are enhancing the demand and supply of plastics used in packaging across India such as high growth of end-user industry, dynamically changing lifestyles, availability of feedstock, focus on manufacturing, etc. Besides this, plastics are considered detrimental towards environment and hence, several states have imposed a ban on these products. Thus, the need of the hour is to arrive at a sustainable solution by adoption of technologies, upcoming innovations and eco-friendly solutions.
About the Author
Rahul Gupta is the Managing Director of Globe Print N Pack. Established in 1996 Globe has grown to be India’s leading design and manufacturer of point of sale and promotional packaging.