Driving Innovation and Sustainability in Packaging Successfully Concludes

The 2nd edition of Pack.Nxt 2024 concluded successfully at The Lalit, Mumbai, bringing together industry pioneers, policymakers, and sustainability advocates to explore the theme "Smart | Circular | Sustainable." The event offered a platform for insightful discussions, networking, and knowledge sharing, addressing the latest trends and challenges in the packaging industry.

The forum commenced with a Keynote Address by Prof. Dr. N.C. Saha, Former Director of the Indian Institute of Packaging, Govt of India & Founder Chairman, Foundation for Innovative Packaging and Sustainability highlighting innovative packaging strategies leading to sustainable environment. He talked about the four major types of packaging materials, post-consumption plastic waste management and the shift from harmful materials to sustainable ones and its effect/ impact on future generations.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Vivek Saxena, PCCF cum Member Secretary, Haryana State Biodiversity Board & PCCF (Budget, Planning & Project Formulation), Former Country Director, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Former Deputy Director General, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change emphasized the role of packaging in promoting environmental conservation, ease of use for consumers, intelligent designing and role of R&D in sustainable packaging. He talked about reducing the use of PET bottles impacting the shortage of drinking sources with a growing population. He emphasised on the affordability and economical aspect of the sustainable packaging materials.

One of the event's catches was the dual-track conference sessions running in parallel, allowing participants to choose discussions that aligned with their specific interests. These sessions covered a crowd-sourced agenda driven by contributions from hundreds of industry professionals, ensuring that the content was highly relevant and engaging.

The Sustainable, Intelligent & Active Track at PACK.Nxt 2024 explored the integration of sustainable practices and technological innovations in packaging. It focused on how packaging can evolve to support environmental responsibility, with advancements like smart labels and digital solutions. The Packaging Recycling Track addressed key challenges in packaging design, material sourcing, and recycling. It emphasized the importance of using recyclable materials and adopting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to manage the entire lifecycle of packaging. Both tracks provided valuable insights into sustainable packaging, innovation, and circular economy practices, highlighting the need for responsible design and material sourcing in the packaging industry.

After the first session, attendees had the opportunity to attend a Case Study Presentation on ExxonMobil Monomaterial Solutions by Ms. Poonam Tomar, Head of Market Development, PE Primary Packaging, Exxon Mobil, offering valuable insights into sustainable packaging innovations.

Prominent speakers at the event included Mr. Sanjay Ghoshal, Head of Packaging at DIAGEO India, Mr. Manjunath Nadella, Assistant Vice President & Head Packaging Development, Strides Pharma, Mr. Soumyanath Mishra, AVP & Head - Packaging Development, Mankind Pharma; Mr. Vaibhav Kulkarni, Head of Quality at Marico India; Mr. Ganesh Narayanswami, Head of Purchasing, John Distilleries Private LimitedMs. Meeta Gawdi, Head of Packaging Department, Candor Foods, Dr. Ankur Chaturvedi - Associate VP- HSE, Excellence & Quality, Emami Ltd, Mr. Tusar Pattnaik, National Head EPR (Sustainability), Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Mr. Sri Krishnan J, Senior Director - Head of Quality, Process Excellence, Learning & Development, Packaging Ops & Design - Flipkart & Myntra, Mr. Shriniwas Singh, Head of Packaging Development, Themis Medicare Ltd, Mr. Pradip Som, Head - Packaging Development, Aculife Healthcare, Mr. Amit Milind Kale, Associate Vice President Sourcing and Supply Chain, Reliance Retail and many more.

The event featured an insightful Case Study Presentation on CocoPallet, powered by Superpacks, presented by Mr. Michiel Vos, Founder of CocoPallet, and Mr. Uday Bapu, CEO of Superpacks. This session highlighted the innovative use of sustainable materials in packaging, offering valuable perspectives on eco-friendly solutions within the industry.

Participating brands included DIAGEO India, ITC Limited, Marico India, Mondelez International, GSK, Kenvue, Reliance Retail,  Emami Ltd, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Godrej Consumer Product Ltd, Burger King India, Bajaj Consumer Ltd, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Strides Pharma, Mankind Pharma, Aculife Healthcare, Kimberly Clark, Unichem Laboratories, John Distilleries Private Limited, Themis Medicare, Candor Foods, L’Oreal, Viyash Life Sciences and many more.

The highlight of the event was the Sustainable Packaging Challenge, judged by eminent experts, including Prof. Dr. N.C. Saha, Former Director- Indian Institute of Packaging, Govt of India & Founder Chairman, Foundation for Innovative Packaging and Sustainability; Mr. Vishal Poojara, Asia Pacific Sourcing Manager Flexibles & AMEA Packaging Sustainability Leader, Mondelez International; Mr. Vaibhav Kulkarni, Head of Quality, Marico India; Mr. Samson Ponselvan JK, VP and Head -EHS & ESG, Viyash Life Sciences; and Ms. Janavi Papriwal, Associate Partner, Circulate Capital. Innovators including Ms. Trupti Arabatti, Founder and CEO of Earthworks Biomat Pvt Ltd; Mr. Rahul Dubey, General Manager (R&D) at UFLEX; Mr. Nishant Dugar, EPR Head- Pan India at ReCircle; and Mr. Anubhav Agarwal, Director of Ecovate Ventures Pvt Ltd, presented groundbreaking ideas. Among them, Mr. Rahul Dubey’s innovative solution earned him the winning spot in the challenge.

The organizers extended their heartfelt gratitude to all partners for their invaluable support including their Gold Partner Exxon Mobil and Silver Partner Pashupati Group for their pivotal contributions. They also acknowledged the Exhibiting & Other Partners including Fibmold, Ganesha Ecosphere, V K Global Digital, and SuperPacks for showcasing state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable solutions, enriching the event's offerings.

Additionally, thanked their media and association partners, including Packaging Industry Association of India (PIAI), Indian Center for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE), Food Infotech, Labels Flexibles and More, India Pharma Outlook, The Packman, PAPER DESK - Corrugman, CP Mirror, Food & Beverages Processing, FOOD – DRINK & INNOVATIONS, and WhatPackaging?. Since their unwavering support and collaboration had been instrumental in making the event a resounding success.

Looking ahead, the 3rd edition of Pack.Nxt is scheduled for 2025, promises to have an expanded agenda and a larger gathering to continue advancing the packaging industry towards smarter and more sustainable practices.