Indian Packaging Summit 2026: SIES marks silver jubilee with inaugural industry platform

The inaugural session at the Indian Packaging Summit brought together policymakers, scientists and industry leaders, setting the agenda for discussions on sustainability, circularity and anti-counterfeiting in packaging.

The event coincided with two milestones — the silver jubilee of the SIES School of Packaging and the ninth edition of the SIES SOP Star Awards. Positioned as a convergence of industry and academia, the summit brings together CXOs, supply chain experts and technology innovators to examine the future of packaging in India.

The agenda focused on emerging trends, technological developments and the growing demands around recycling and sustainability. With global regulations evolving and supply chains becoming more complex, discussions at the summit are centred on how the industry adapts to these shifts.

Reflecting on the institution’s journey, Rajesh Kumar Gera, advisor and chief strategist, SIES SOP, highlighted that, “Twenty-five years ago, the idea that packaging deserved its own academic and research ecosystem was considered niche, perhaps even unconventional. Today, as SIES School of Packaging celebrates its silver jubilee, that belief stands validated.”

He added, “What began as a bold vision has evolved into one of India’s most respected centres for packaging education, research, testing and advisory,” while noting that sustainability challenges now present an opportunity for the sector to reposition itself.

Gera said the industry must look at packaging as a solution. He emphasised that current environmental pressures offer a chance to rethink materials, systems and lifecycle approaches.

The session opened with a welcome and lamp lighting ceremony, followed by an address from MV Ramnarayan, working president, SIES, who welcomed delegates and framed the significance of the summit. 

The keynote address by Dr Harshavardhan V Pol of CSIR-NCL focused on “initiatives in plastics sustainability and circularity,” outlining scientific and technological pathways to address plastic waste and improve material lifecycle management. His address placed emphasis on innovation-led sustainability and the role of research institutions in enabling circular packaging systems.

Pol outlined the Covid-era waste challenge and the structured approach adopted. “PPE waste was collected in yellow bags and underwent centralised incineration,” he said, adding that his team explored alternatives through “decontamination, preprocessing, shredding, agglomeration, compounding and moulding.” A key finding was that sterilisation did not degrade material performance. “Autoclaving did not affect the mechanical or thermal properties,” he said, establishing that PPE waste could be safely recycled. The team experimented with multiple formulations. “We blended recycled PPE with virgin polypropylene in different ratios,” he said. “Thermal stability and flow properties remained comparable, and there was no phase separation.”

Pol also explored material enhancement. “Using fillers like talc, nanoclay and glass fibre improved strength and performance,” he said, adding that such composites could be used in “automotive and semi-structural applications at lower cost.” Demonstrating industrial feasibility, he cited trials with injection moulding units. “We developed components such as automotive panels, flower pots and utility products,” he said. “Properties of recycled and virgin materials were nearly equivalent.” A pilot-scale project was executed through industry collaboration. “We worked with Reliance and processing partners, and sourced decontaminated PPE through MPCB-approved channels,” he said. “Around 100-kg of material was processed into usable products.” He highlighted both environmental and economic gains. “This material can fetch Rs 40–70 per kg,” he said, noting reduced landfill and incineration loads.

Looking ahead, he outlined a phased roadmap. “Scale pilots, expand nationally and move towards advanced recycling and biodegradable alternatives,” he said, adding that “digital traceability for recycled content” will be key.

This was followed by the chief guest address by Dr AB Pandit, vice chancellor, Institute of Chemical Technology, who called for a shift in perspective on waste and recycling. He highlighted the need to systematise recycling practices and position packaging as a key driver of resource recovery.

Dr Pandit called for a shift towards a structured and system-driven recycling ecosystem. Pandit linked the discussion to practical implementation. “Any form of plastic in principle can be processed in a similar way,” he said, while noting that challenges such as “lower bulk density” limit current recycling efficiencies. He stressed that recycling must move beyond closed-loop approaches. “Repurposing of polymer waste does not have to be necessarily for the same packaging application,” he said, pointing to wider opportunities through composite-based reuse.

He urged a change in perspective. “The waste which we have generated, it’s time for us to look at this as the next set of resource,” he said, identifying the packaging sector as “an ideal candidate” to drive this transition.

Drawing comparisons with other materials, Pandit highlighted established recycling systems. “Almost 80% of glass is recycled, only 20% is new charge,” he said. “Similarly, paper packaging is already recycled and reused in the same form,” he added, noting that while systems exist, execution remains uneven. “The issue is not absence of recycling, it is that it is unorganised,” Pandit said. “It needs to be systematised,” he added, stressing that structured processes would improve quality control and standardisation. On future applications, he said, “Eventually, recycled plastics can be used even for food packaging,” pointing to global benchmarks. “Technologies are available, the challenge is to make them affordable and competitive.” He highlighted the economics of waste collection as a key constraint. “The rag picker evaluates effort versus return,” he said, explaining why low-value, thin plastic waste is often left uncollected. “Make it economically viable, recycling will happen,” he added.

Pandit also pointed to emerging urban initiatives. “Municipal corporations are looking at mining dumping sites, much of it is packaging material,” he said, indicating a growing focus on resource recovery. Summing up, he said, “Efforts are there, technologies are there, but more work is needed to make packaging a lead industry in recycling.”

The summit had technical presentations and concluded with the SIES SOP Star Awards ceremony, recognising excellence and innovation across the Indian packaging industry.