The Next Gen Packaging Committee of The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the 2nd edition of the BCC&I Packaging e−Conclave on 2nd August 2022. The Next Gen Packaging Committee is mentored by Mr. P Anand, VP− M&S, The Tinplate company of India Ltd. and Chaired by Mr. Ronojoy Basu, Area Sales Manager, Middle East & South East Asia, Emerson + Renwick Group.

Packaging is an industry that is always looked at individually according to sectors like food, pharma, FMCG, industrial etc. However, the Next Gen Packaging Committee of The Bengal Chamber considered the 2 broad divisions of Packaging − Flexible Packaging and Rigid Packaging which includes metal packaging. The committee, with the intention of considering the broader aspects of the wholesome Packaging Industry and to understand the preparedness of the Indian packaging industry for international markets organized this programme with the theme “Indian Packaging: Preparedness for Global play”.

Hence, the discussions revolved around the presence of the Indian packaging companies globally, impact of the policies of the different economic regions like ASEAN, NAFTA, COMESA on exporters, Sustainability, which is of utmost concern of the industry and how the industry is working hard to bring back waste to the economy with their various approaches of the 3 R−s − Reduce, Reuse and recycle. The discussions also revolved around raw materials, packaging machineries, technology and innovations and how innovations and technology would lead the entire packaging industry towards a better sustainable future. Since the packaging industry is wide and diverse and every sector has its own standards, there arises a need of some common standardization for the entire Packaging industry more so because this industry goes hand in hand with the International trade of the country which involves following international standards. This has led the experts to discuss the need of standardization of packaging in India, addressing the session on “Unity in Diversity: Need of Standardization of Packaging in India”.

The e-Conclave saw the participation of:

Mr. Anantshree Chaturvedi, Vice Chairman and CEO, Flex Films.

Mr. R M Uthayaraja, Director − Manufacturing Business, Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd.

Mr. Prashant Mehra, President & CEO − Packaging Films Business, Coated Fabrics Business, Laminated Fabrics Business, SRF Ltd.

Mr. Sanjay Bhatia, Managing Director, Hindustan Tin Works

Mr. Ashwani Sharma, Vice−president, JSW Steel Coated Products Ltd. JSW Tinplate

Mr. Malwinder Singh Battu, Head Marketing − Petrochemicals HMEL (HPCL−Mittal Energy Limited)

Mr. Parag Patwardhan, Vice President − Sales & Marketing, Nichrome India Ltd.

Prof. Prasad Balan Iyer, Director, SIES School of Packaging Mr. Pankaj Poddar, CEO, Cosmo Films

Mr. Praveen Shrivastava, Chief of Marketing & Sales, Flat Products, Tata Steel Ltd. 

Mr. Ravindra N, AGM Materials, Shetron Ltd.

Mr. P Anand, Mentor, The Next Gen Packaging Committee, BCC&I & VP − M&S, The Tinplate company of India Ltd.

Mr. Ronojoy Basu, Chairman, The Next Gen Packaging Committee, BCC&I & Area Sales Manager, Middle East & South East Asia, Emerson + Renwick Group.

Dr. Debashish Bhattacharjee, Mentor, Metals Committee, BCC&I and Vice President − Technology and New Materials Business, Tata Steel Limited graced the occasion as a Guest of Honour at the Fire Side on: “Sustainable Packaging: New Materials in Metal Packaging”

The other sessions were:

Opening Session − “Indian Packaging : Preparedness for Global Play”

“Experts’ Roundtable − “Raw Materials and Machines: Two Guiding Forces in Next Gen Packaging”, and

Experts’ Roundtable − “Unity in Diversity : Need of Standardization of Packaging in India”

The participants varied from sectors like printing and & packaging technology providers, corrugated box manufacturers, Polymer Manufacturers, manufacturers of agrochemicals, industrial chemicals, chemical intermediates, and specialty chemicals, Packaging Machine manufacturers, Plastic Manufacturers Association, Packaging Companies, National Jute Manufacturers Corporation, End users that belongs to fertilizer companies, health care companies, food processing companies who are members of APEDA & MPEDA, and Institutes like − Indian Institute of Packaging, SIES School of Packaging and Consultants.