PACKINDIA
India is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. Its packaging industry has a turnover of about Rs 15,000 crores, and is growing by 14-15 per cent annually (2005-06). More than 80 per cent of this constitutes rigid and semi-flexible packaging, and the remaining percentage comprises flexible packaging. It ranks 15th in paper and paperboard consumption in the world.
And 40 per cent of the total demand for paper of around six million tonnes is consumed by the packaging industry.
However, polymer (plastic) has gained vast acceptability, and has become one of the most commonly used substrate in flexible packaging. Unfortunately, there are many environmental concerns of using plastic. (See box:Packlastic)
The increasing quantities of plastic waste and its disposal is a major concern, and we all know what the consequences of indiscriminate littering of plastic wastes are. To add to the problem, they are manufactured from non-renewable resources. In India, states like Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and a few cities like Bangalore have banned the use of thin plastic bags.
But plastic is still preferred by many manufacturers because of its light weight, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Other materials like glass and metals are not only costlier, they also add to the weight of  the package, thus increasing the shipping costs. And their lifecycle analyses make it difficult to decide whether they are actually more environment friendly. For instance, according to an ecological analysis by the German Federal Environmental Agency, returnable PET packaging for mineral water
and carbonated soft drinks are a better choice over returnable glass systems. So every packaging material has its pros and cons. But the main problem is not choosing an eco-friendlier material, but what we do with the packaging stuff, once they are used.
In India, there are some rules and regulations governing the packaging process to guide us.
PACKRULES
- Packing needs to be strong to protect against extreme heat and humidity in the summer and possible storage in the open.
- Steel strapping is also recommended because of the threat of pilfering.
- Outer containers must bear the consignee's and port marks, and they should also be numbered (in accordance with the packing list) unless their contents can be otherwise readily identified.
- Gross weight must also be shown on two faces.
- Goods produced in more than one country are required to have 'Foreign Made' or similar wordings clearly marked on the goods, their labels or packages. All other imports must show the country of origin.
- Materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are not allowed for packaging in most cities due to environmental concerns and waste disposal problems.
Label norms
There are strict labelling rules as well to protect the rights of consumers.
- The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, prohibits the manufacture, distribution or sale of any packaged food product that is not marked and labelled in the manner specified by regulations.
- Labels cannot make false or misleading claims, including in regard to implied health claims or place of origin of the food product.
- Importers of packaged food products must adhere to laws requiring labelling information that includes the name and address of the importer, generic or common name of the product, the net quantity, date of manufacture, best-before date and maximum sales price including any taxes or charges.
- Product labels should be printed in English or Hindi (Devnagari script) and must be completed before products are presented for Customs clearance.
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PACKLASTIC
Packaging industry is the prime user of plastics in India, accounting for 42 per cent of the total consumption. And this may increase six times by 2030.
CONSUMPTION
During the last decade, the total consumption of plastics grew at a rate of 12 per cent per annum.
The average per capita consumption of virgin plastics reached 3.2 Kgs in 2000-2001 (5 Kgs including recycled material) from
0.8 kg in 1990-1991.
RECYCLE
47 per cent of the total plastic waste generated is currently recycled.
>The share of recycling will decrease to 35 per cent over the next three decades, due to the escalating share of long-life products in the economy and in the volume of waste generated.
WASTE
By 2030, plastic waste available for disposal (excluding recycled plastics) will be 10 times more than that in 2000-2001, assuming that the recycling rates will remain constant for the next three decades.
>More than 5400 tonnes of plastic waste was generated per day in 2000-2001 (or two million tonnes per annum).
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But these rules and regulations lag far behind the detailed regulations implemented worldwide, for example that of Harmonised European Union Directives, US (Food and Drug Administration), Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Most countries focus on waste prevention by proper packaging, minimisation (also called source reduction) of the mass and volume of packaging (per unit of contents), reuse, recycling, energy recovery (use of the heat available from the packaging components by waste-to-energy and refuse-derived fuel facilities), and disposal. The basic idea is to reduce packaging to the minimal requirement, and to reuse and recycle the package – the 'three Rs' of reduce, reuse and recycle.
The best means of preventing piling of packaging waste is to reduce the overall volume of packaging.
In terms of materials, regulations along with public concerns reg¬arding safety and environment have placed materials, like cardboard and glass, in an advantage over polymers. However, polymer packaging will dominate the market because of its convenient usage.
So when Panditayen chose a particular brand of a product over others, she was not only influenced by the looks of the package. A host of other, more important factors, came into play. She was impressed by the marketing of the product, its labelling, government rules and regulations, and the packaging industry as a whole.
Next time you pick up a bottle of juice, do not only think about what is inside the packet, but also be aware and conscious of what is the packet.
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