ResPack day one: Innovation, sustainability, and circularity

The fourth edition of the ResPack International Conference began on June 2 at The Lalit, Mumbai, setting the tone for two days of intense dialogue on the future of responsible packaging. Organised by the Foundation for Innovative Packaging and Sustainability (FIPS) in collaboration with APEDA and NID Madhya Pradesh, the event brought together over 400 delegates, 39 speakers, and 21 brands across 16 sessions.

The event was inaugurated by chief guest Prabh Das, managing director and CEO of HPCL-Mittal Energy.

Dr NC Saha highlighted the expansive scope of this year's conference, promising a “360-degree coverage of everything related to packaging.” Arvind Mehta, chairman of the governing council of the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), stressed the industry's potential in global trade. He noted, “AIPMA has set up an export study cell to study the benefits of the plastics export industry.”

Dr Vidya Rakesh, director of NID MP and special guest, called attention to the circular economy, stating the need to “focus on recycling in the packaging ecosystem,” and referenced NID's partnership with the event. Eminent scientist and Padma Shri awardee Prof S Sivaram, from the Indian Institute of Science, underscored the urgency of material flow analysis in India, “without which waste management solutions cannot be found.”

Dr Sudhanshu, secretary of APEDA, revealed a promising development in perishables: a new film co-developed with UFlex that extends the shelf life of certain goods from three to 14 days. Meanwhile, RR Rashmi, former chief secretary of Manipur, advocated for a “comprehensive approach to environmental resource management.”

Chief guest Prabh Das, managing director and CEO of HPCL-Mittal Energy, discussed the rise of AI in packaging and manufacturing. Dr Alka Rao, advisor to the FSSAI, traced the evolChiefution of food-contact packaging regulation, particularly India’s move toward the use of recycled PET (rPET).

Other regulatory perspectives came from Nandkumar Gurav, who elaborated on India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules, EPR mechanisms, and the single-use plastic ban. Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International, described their initiatives like Bottles for Change and Benches of Dreams and affirmed that “brands are ready to comply with statutory regulations.”

The afternoon featured a business session on innovative export packaging, moderated by Dr Sudhanshu. Prakash Waghmare of APEDA discussed compliance for food exports, while Harish Kumar of UFlex showcased Flexfresh’s ability to extend perishables’ shelf life by up to 50 days.

Ramswaroop Tharad, managing director of Rajshree Polypack, introduced rigid retort packaging — an area he noted was still “at a nascent stage in India.”

In a notable panel moderated by Dr Vidya Rakesh on responsible packaging design, Rahul Nair of BITS Pilani urged a “systems thinking” approach in design education. Barun Banerjee of Jupiter Laminators highlighted the need for clarity on compliance and usability testing. Haresh Mehta of Jayna Packaging declared, “I strongly believe that paper corrugated boards can replace plastic or metal boards. It is very easy to make more shapes with cardboard if engineered properly.”

Speakers from the paper-based packaging sector also had their say. Dr NV Gune of Pudumjee Paper Products described advances in organic-coated biodegradable paper. Rachel Jacob from Suprabha Protective Products discussed the vapour corrosion inhibitor paper as a “barrier that heals and replenishes itself.” Aditya Gupta of Narsingh Das Group traced paper packaging’s roots and its potential to replace materials like aluminium and glass.

The first plenary session, chaired by Rakesh Pandya of Borouge India, was centred on sustainable technologies in flexible packaging. NS Sundaram of Paharpur 3P said, “We need to start working on sustainable packaging innovation,” driven by regulations, consumer expectations, and corporate responsibility. Vishal Malhotra of Presto Stantest urged investment in quality testing, saying, “Don’t leave it to L1.”

Henkel’s Seshadri R highlighted their work with bio-based, recyclable adhesives. Ashwani Sharma of JSW spoke on enhancing the appeal of metal packaging while considering EPR norms. Mohan Kuruvilla of Stolle Machinery pointed out, “Millions in India go hungry night after night; we have the opportunity to solve not just India’s problem but the global hunger problem.”

Rolf Geide, CEO of Soudronic AG, addressed the need to educate new generations about the metal packaging business. Dr Reena Bibals of Godrej noted a key industry challenge: “We definitely are not the quality leaders when it comes to aerosol cans manufacturing.” Purnima Singh Rathore of Shell India acknowledged the cost factor in sustainable metal options, stating, “We need to see how that cost can be bridged.”

With insights ranging from food safety to futuristic materials and industry-wide compliance, day one of ResPack 2025 laid a strong foundation for the critical conversations continuing into day two.