Sustainable packaging needs collaboration: Rajesh Srivastava

The term sustainability has been referenced nearly 5.8 million times over the past five years alone. While the conversation spans industries, in packaging — especially plastic packaging — the responsibility is far greater. As Rajesh Srivastava of UFlex pointed out, packaging is not only vital to modern commerce but also essential to daily life, especially in a post-Covid world where it has played a critical role in ensuring safe and hygienic delivery of goods.

“Packaging contributes significantly to GDP and remains one of the most cost-effective and efficient means to extend product shelf life — particularly through multilayer structures. However, this efficiency comes with environmental concerns, especially as plastic waste finds its way into landfills and oceans,” he said, adding, “Consumers today demand packaging that maintains product integrity, food safety, and brand appeal while being environmentally responsible. Manufacturers, therefore, face a unique challenge: developing packaging solutions that offer mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and biological safety while aligning with sustainability goals.”

He said post-pandemic shifts have ushered in innovations such as square bottles, paper-based packs, and smart packaging embedded with digital features. There’s even exploration into edible packaging that could one day be consumed alongside the product itself. ECommerce has accelerated this shift, with brands increasingly adopting paper and recyclable materials.

According to Srivastava, sustainability in packaging is shaped by a confluence of stakeholders: Brand owners set specifications, demanding new barrier properties and recyclable structures. Converters push for efficiency, speed, and lower consumption. Machine manufacturers develop high-speed presses that influence ink and material design. Regulators enforce compliance with food safety norms and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.

Srivastava admits that as an ink manufacturer, UFlex can contribute primarily to reduction — not directly to recycling or reuse. The company's role lies in cutting down ink consumption, solvent use, and the carbon footprint of production processes. Key strategies include shifting to bio-based raw materials such as natural resins, vegetable oils, and renewable additives; reducing dependency on fossil fuels; moving towards LED and UV curing technologies that minimise energy use and eliminate solvents; and innovating with low-viscosity, low-VOC inks that meet performance standards while being environmentally friendlier.

Despite the enthusiasm, Srivastava noted that around 90% of sustainable packaging solutions are still in the design phase. Only a small fraction (about 5%) has reached commercial markets, mainly due to challenges like high costs of bio-based ingredients; limited availability of green raw materials; compatibility issues with existing supply chains and machinery and regulatory uncertainties.

Moreover, there's an inherent contradiction in market demands: brands want longer shelf lives for products like snacks (up to six months), even in tough conditions like highway distribution, yet also expect the packaging to be fully recyclable — a technically difficult balance to achieve.

Srivastava said UFlex’s Chemicals division is already contributing with sustainable solutions. 20% of its portfolio comprises green chemistry products, including solvent-free adhesives, water-based inks, and LED-curable coatings. The company has developed recyclable, compostable, and low-carbon-footprint solutions for flexible packaging, shrink sleeves, and surface printing. With 67,000 tonnes of capacity and exports to 20 countries, UFlex is positioned to scale these innovations as demand and regulations evolve.

Srivastava emphasised that while sustainability is the future, it must be pursued in a way that serves the needs of 1.4 billion consumers in India — ensuring materials remain affordable, efficient, and safe. As he aptly puts it, packaging must balance stringent environmental norms with practical performance expectations, especially in a market where affordability is key.

“The road to fully sustainable packaging is complex and incremental, but with collaboration across the value chain — from brands to converters, ink makers to regulators — viable solutions are within reach,” he concluded.