The 9th edition of the Speciality Films and Flexible Packaging Global Summit 2022 is scheduled on 5 and 6 September at Sahara Star in Mumbai. In the exclusive interview, Nidhi Verma, the director at ElitePlus talks about the expectation for the summit.
Q) What should the visitor expect from the 9th edition of Speciality Films & Flexible Packaging Global Summit 2022, and what would be the event’s highlight?
This summit, over the years, has become the leading Packaging Summit in Asia, where all stakeholders gather under one roof and provide a unique platform to interact with stakeholders in this industry. With New environmental policies and various Govt. notifications, materials research and development, End-of-life options, and increased recycled content are taking the front stage. This will be explored in the summit from multiple viewpoints during the summit.
In this edition, we have added some tools to allow participants to network better. The networking scheduler will enable participants to pre-plan all their meetings. Also, this year we have selected topics aligned with current and future trends. We are tackling the critical issues around sustainability, EPR, and recycling – currently facing the industry. Post-Covid, this is a vast and excellent come-back opportunity, where all Industry colleagues will Gather again under one roof to discuss and decide how to bring up some new opportunities. This year would be an even more powerful, high-level – networking, sharing, and collaborating Global platform for all the participants.
Q) Please elaborate on your experience in India’s flexible packaging film industry?
As per my experience, which I observed during the lockdown period, the e-commerce industry has seen a surge in business, which continues post-pandemic.
Further, in the last 2-3 years, change toward hygienic living—sanitization, personal hygiene, social distancing, or using healthy products. Amid the e-commerce surge, the Indian packaging industry is witnessing steep growth and is one of the most vital growing segments.
Amid the pandemic, the demand for packaging for groceries, healthcare products, and e-commerce transportation has increased exponentially; but, at the same, the demand for industrial, luxury and sections of B2B-transport packaging has declined.
Q) According to you, who should be responsible for plastic waste, and how do the brand and the government actively focus on recycling plastic?
Sustainability becomes evident when looking at the total life cycle of flexible packaging. Flexible packaging requires less transportation and storage space reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, requires less material overall, making it a more environmentally friendly option than materials such as glass and rigid PET and uses fewer resources during the production process, including water and fossil fuel.
The challenge is that a disconnect exists between brand owners and consumers regarding the importance of sustainability in flexible packaging. Even though most of today’s flexible packaging is not considered recyclable by a large section of consumers and Society, an opportunity exists to increase awareness of flexible packaging’s sustainability, including its reduced carbon footprint.
Q) What percentage of companies take sustainable initiatives?
Sustainable initiatives, especially with flexible Packaging, is no longer an option with the Companies as consumers are becoming increasingly worried about the environment & Sustainability regulations for packaging have become increasingly ambitious.
Therefore it will be prudent to say that all Companies are taking Sustainability initiatives, and those who are not will soon join in.
Q) Can we improve the perception of sustainability by incorporating other materials?
Consumers judge packaging material by natural-looking or recyclable material and design. Thus Companies have to seriously invest in identifying design changes that will improve the perception and educate consumers thru all available forums
Q) Are brands doing enough to develop sustainable packaging design and spread awareness about plastic recycling?
Packaging plays a pivotal role in consumers’ experience with respect to the brand and the overall purchasing experience. Packaging can make a huge difference in category dominance and sales growth, creating significant brand value.
In my opinion, Brands have to consider that the packaging is the product, and it should create consumer value and brand value and invest more time and energy in packaging.
Q) Your message to the participants of the event
Let us all get together – as it’s a vast and excellent come-back opportunity.
Let’s reach our new heights and compensate for the lost time during the pandemic.
