Abhay Avadhani's Interpack Diary Day 3

Day Three in Dusseldorf was about one thing: the proposed ban on plastic sachets in pan masala and gutkha packaging. Innumerable Indians at Interpack had one question on their lips: how to overcome this packaging challenge.

While sustainability and the shift to mono-materials continue to dominate the halls, a specific, high-stakes issue from back home has become the "hot topic" among Indian industry leaders. As one packaging industry expert told me, "the game is afoot; and lots of moves and countermoves are underway."

The background is as follows: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a complete shift to non-plastic packaging for pan masala, gutkha, and similar items. This regulatory move, aimed at promoting environment-friendly packaging, directly responds to the tiny plastic wrappers that are nearly impossible to recover and recycle at scale. This issue has often been overlooked in the context of other small, unit-price packs, such as chocolate, because FSSAI generally regulates those as normal food packaging, not as a specialised, litter-heavy category.

The urgency of this regulatory shift is magnified by the market's scale. India’s pan masala and gutkha sector was valued at INR48,455.9 crore in 2025 and is projected to grow to INR67,034.8 crore by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.51%. Consumption is concentrated, with a few states leading the way: Uttar Pradesh (18%), Bihar (14%), Madhya Pradesh (11%), and Rajasthan (10%), followed by Maharashtra (9%), West Bengal (8%), and others.

While the "no plastic sachets" rule is widely welcomed as a necessary environmental step, the conversations at Interpack reveal a deeper, philosophical debate about the core problem. Many believe that merely banning the plastic sachet is akin to "putting a helmet on while jumping off a cliff". And there is the practical question: "Are we going to import biodegradable plastics? If yes, it will bleed the P&L of most of existing players."

Critics argue the real issue is the addiction and ease of access engineered by selling carcinogenic products like pan masala and supari at only INR 2 a packet. A smarter regulatory fix proposed by some industry observers is to mandate a minimum 100g pack size, ending the sachet culture, reducing impulse use, limiting youth exposure, and minimising plastic waste without an outright ban on the product category itself.

At Interpack, this debate fuels the exploration of sustainable alternatives. The discussions I have been overhearing centre on how Indian packaging must pivot quickly. Currently, alternatives are being imported. However, a major domestic solution is on the horizon that aligns with India's increasing role as a "partner in engineering."

Readers of WhatPackaging? are aware that Balrampur Chini Mills is preparing to enter the bioplastics landscape with a plant set to revolutionise India's plastic use. Utilising sugarcane to produce compostable, low-emission PLA bioplastics, the facility is expected to begin operations by October 2026 with an annual production capacity of 80,000 tonnes.

The collective presence of Indian packaging leaders at Interpack confirms that the path to a sustainable future is not just about adopting global trends; it is about engineering tailored, resilient solutions for India's specific challenges, from the small, cheap sachet to the large-scale production of green materials.

The point is, India will require homegrown, bio-based solutions to transition away from volatile, crude-linked inputs and address unique environmental compliance burdens.

Meanwhile we are running out of time ...