Pack.Nxt to address India’s smart, sustainable packaging transition

The future roadmap for the Indian packaging industry, focusing on the integration of smart, active, and sustainable technologies, will be the core agenda at the third edition of the Pack.Nxt event. The event structure emphasises actionable insights into the challenges and opportunities posed by evolving consumer demands and stringent regulatory mandates.

The summit's relevance to the printing and converting sectors is underscored by its confirmed speaker faculty of over 60 industry experts, drawing strong representation from major multinational and domestic brand owners. Companies confirming their participation through senior representatives include FMCG brands such as Wipro Consumer Care, Kellogg Company (South Asia), Reckitt, Marico India, L'Oreal, and DFM Foods. Expertise from high-value sectors like pharmaceuticals is also prominent, with speakers from Aurobindo Pharma, Themis Medicare, and Cipla Health.

Supply chain and eCommerce efficiency, areas heavily reliant on packaging integrity, will be addressed by leaders from Amazon India operations and Flipkart, while the technology side features involvement from companies like Esko and global sustainability perspectives from EPL. Although the primary focus is the domestic Indian market, the inclusion of leaders with APAC and global roles, such as Bhupesh Kumar Mittal from Bayer Consumer Healthcare, ensures an international context for best practices.

Several key speakers have confirmed their attendance to present on critical topics, including Prasad Satam, VP – packaging, R&D, Aurobindo Pharma, Swarn Singh Grover, director, R&D, Kellogg Company, Avijit Das, R&D director, Reckitt, and Dr Prabodh Halde, head, regulatory affairs, Marico India.

The programme will also feature regulatory and policy insights from Omprakash Sadhwani, former joint commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, and technical direction from Dr Subodh Juikar, joint director, Indian Institute of Packaging. Further contributions come from Tabrez Shaikh, director, Esko, Rajesh Bhogavalli, president - supply chain and sustainability, EPL, and Mradul Jain, staff engineer, Kenvue, ensuring a comprehensive view spanning R&D, design technology, and sustainability strategy.

The conference programme is structured around critical technical and legislative pivot points for the industry. Key sessions will cover the transition from theory to practice: circular economy in packaging, and address the new materials revolution, focusing on the commercial adoption of biopolymers, compostables, and recyclable laminates.

Digital transformation forms a significant track, exploring smart packaging technologies for supply chain visibility and consumer interaction, alongside the application of AI, IoT and data-driven packaging design. Crucially for print converters, a dedicated section will focus on regulatory readiness, providing essential updates on EPR, labelling, standards and compliance as the industry adjusts to a more regulated environment.