Tete-a-tete with Suneet Jain of Galgo Fine Papers

Galgo Fine Papers, one of the leading fine paper suppliers in India, has been specialising in providing the finest quality papers across the world to meet diverse creative requirements. The company is involved in import, indenting and bulk buying of all kinds of paper and board from various nations worldwide.

The pandemic proved to be very tough for Galgo, but at the same time it created a lot of opportunities, says Suneet Jain, business head, Galgo Fine Papers. His mantra? “Hold on to your leadership with an extremely calm and firm approach.”

“In fact, Covid has taught us that if you look at tough situations with an eagle’s eye, you will find a lot more opportunities not only to create a business empire, but also to build yourself and come out more strongly. At the same time, you need to invest in innovation to build a stream of new profitable products to market,” Jain explains.

Jain observes that the Covid era has been a challenging time for every single individual to cope with the mental and physical health of oneself, dear ones and the family. On the business front, the company’s foremost challenge was to take care of the people at Galgo family. Everyone’s comfort and health were put on priority.

“We welcomed the post covid era with new beginnings and new ideas – innovation, new opportunities, out-of-the-box thinking, developing skills, recognising and overcoming the pitfalls associated with growth, managing finances, and controlling overdue credits,” says Jain.

The demand for more
Brands (FMCG and non-FMCG) are seeking more and more from print and packaging. According to Jain, catering to the new normal of gaining speed, flexibility, profit-centric approach, and lower carbon footprint has been a norm for the print and packaging sector.

“The growing demand for innovative packaging from end-user segments such as food, beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are driving the expansion of the market, with better quality, competitive prices, spending more on research and development, deployment of advanced printing technologies, managing and reducing the carbon footprint to achieve environmental sustainability.

During Covid, when all industries were struggling to survive, our industry stood firm and prospering by meeting the advanced packaging requirements,” he adds.
Jain says that packaging is no more just a tool for immediate consumer needs. “It’s also a sensual experience, literally engaging us through sight, touch and sound and making one brand stand ahead of the others.”

When considering the importance of product packaging, it’s crucial to consider the wants and needs of the consumer. Jain believes that the main goal of creating any product is to attract customers and encourage them to buy your product. Because first impressions are so important to the buying process, well-designed product packaging with the most modern and appealing print technique can go a long way in putting your product into the hands of buyers.

Jain observes that in the last one year the print and packaging industry in India has been investing in research and development, “but maybe there is still more need to invest in R&D”.

On sustainability
Speaking of the commonly used terms in the industry such as “biodegradable” and “circular economy”, Jain says this is “one area where our industry in totality needs a lot of learning”.

“’Biodegradable’, ‘Recyclable’, ‘Waste Management’ are the buzzwords in the corporate world; with corporates not taking initiatives to implement it. The industry and the corporate world need to know that everything is biodegradable, but how fast? That is important,” Jain exclaims.

Jain claims that Galgo was one of the first FSC COC certified paper trading companies in India to promote sustainable development. It also represents Spain-based Papel Aralar in India. Papel Aralar is said to be one of the first manufacturers in the world to produce 100% natural and totally biodegradable flushable paper – Araflush made of 100% cellulosic fibre, which has no plastic contents.

Jain claims that 94% of hygienic wipes on the market are not flushable, because they are made from polyester fibres, viscose, polypropylene, and “will not disintegrate when saturated with water”. Only the remaining 6% are flushable and contain a chemical binder.

“Therefore, they are not 100% natural and biodegradable. On the contrary, Araflush is 100% natural and flushable paper. This is just one of the examples in our contribution to let people know what actually can be done to save the environment,” Jain asserts.

Plans for 2022
“We have clearly laid down the plans for 2022, to make the most of the opportunities, creating sustainable growth for the future,” says Jain. “We have plans to focus on the packaging segment, as the packaging industry has been an important sector, driving technology and innovation growth in the country and adding value to the various manufacturing sectors.”

Galgo is also planning to add new products to its range of papers, catering to various print and packaging requirements. Also, in 2022, the company is confident to establish 100% flushable base paper, Araflush, in the Indian market, aligning with Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan scheme.

The five-decade-old company has a strong business network in all Indian metro cities through its established distribution channel, having its own warehousing facility in New Delhi. The Group currently handles over 1,00,000 MT of paper and board per year.

The way the prices of paper and surcharges have gone up drastically in the past few months, disturbing the entire paper and print industry, we predict that in 2022 this may drop down the same manner,” Jain says, concluding, “The print and packaging industry is expected to witness significant growth in the coming year due to the increased demand for aesthetic printing solutions in end-use industries.