MCCI PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY CONCLAVE at Taj Bengal, Kolkata

Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry organised ‘MCCI Packaging Sustainability Conclave’ with Shri Vagish Dixit, Managing Director & Partner, Alpla India & Chief Engagement Officer, Alpla Global Group, Smt. Ekta Narain, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Recykal, Shri Utsav Dixit, Chief Sustainability & Growth Officer, ALPLA India and Shri Pradeep Kumar Pandey, President, Packaging Dev., Emami Limited today (16.12.2025) at Taj Bengal.

Shri Vagish Dixit, Managing Director & Partner, Alpla India & Chief Engagement Officer, Alpla Global Group spoke on ‘Role of Plastics & Sustainable Packaging in the Path to Viksit Bharat’. He said that Plastics have revolutionised 10 Industries including consumer goods, healthcare, automotive & aerospace, electronic & technology, construction, environment & sustainability, fashion & technology, food & beverage, communication & connectivity and household products. Plastics help you save carbon emissions and make your supply chain more effective.

Plastic packaging accounts for just a fifth of all packaging waste. Plastic packaging accounts for only a very small proportion of a person’s carbon footprint. Just 2.2% of the crude oil produced globally is used for the production of plastic packaging.

To embark on the path of Viksit Bharat, he suggested that Indian industries should focus on innovation not on imitation.

Smt. Ekta Narain, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Recykal spoke on ‘How Technology is Redefining Waste Management – Driving Transparency and Accountability in ESG & Value Chains’. She said that as of 2024, 7.2% of global economy is Circular. Waste management has traditionally been informal, manual, and fragmented.  Waste has been one of the least transparent parts of ESG—and therefore one of the highest risks. ESG reporting has relied on self-declarations, spreadsheets, and delayed audits.

B2B Marketplace for recyclables & recyclates empowers a circular economy for different waste categories.

She shared that Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) was planned as a special-administrative economic hub in Bhutan covering about 2,500 km.  It is expected to eventually accommodate up to 1 million residents as it develops. In December 2024, reclaim devices was inaugurated at the Ozone Day celebration in Bhutan.

Shri Utsav Dixit, Chief Sustainability & Growth Officer, ALPLA India spoke on ‘Innovation & Future Trends in Packaging Sustainability’. He said that purchasing a Susanne Kaufmann refill Bottle versus the product in a glass bottle reduces carbon emissions by 69%; Purchasing a Susanne Kaufmann product in a glass bottle (with the pump and secondary packaging) and refilling it 4 times with a Susanne Kaufmann refill bottle has 50% less overall environmental impact

ü  Reduces carbon emissions by 55%

ü  Reduces water-use by 37.5%

ü  Reduces land-use by around 50%

ü  Reduces summer smog by around 56%

He mentioned Advantages of reusable PET bottles which are given as follow

ü  Reduced carbon footprint

ü  Life cycle up to 25 cycles

ü  Recycling share 30% PET

ü  Weight optimized packaging

Shri Dixit mentioned about Eco-friendly Digital Messaging which is highlighting stainability in a visual-first way Matte & Low-Glare finishes to reduce glare in thumbnails that are picture friendly.

Shri Pradeep Kumar Pandey, President, Packaging Dev., Emami Limited spoke on ‘Sustainability in FMCG Packaging: A Decade of PWM Evolution and the Challenges of Cost, Compliance & Industry Readiness.’ He said that Plastics today form the foundation of our convenience consumer culture. Per capita plastic waste has gone up from 700 gm to 2500 gm in last 5 yrs (3.5 million Tons of Plastic waste as per CPCB). India 15 kg vs China 62.4kg vs USA: 112 kg) vis-à-vis developed economies. However, 60% of plastic waste collected through unstructured mechanism and 40% still goes in landfill or sea.

Innovation to make MLP used for sachets and tubes recyclable mono material leveraging material and process Innovation.

He lastly mentioned about New Plastics Economy. First of all, eliminate the plastics that we don’t need. The plastics items we use to keep them in the economy and out of the environment. To ensure that the plastics we don’t need are reusable, recyclables, or compostable.

Smt. Priti A. Sureka, President, MCCI in her Welcome Address said that the packaging industry plays a pivotal role in our daily lives, but it also leaves a significant environmental footprint. Plastics pollute our oceans and landfills, and the challenges are real. In 2025, sustainable packaging is no longer optional—it is a core essential for businesses.

We are seeing exciting innovations leading the way: 100% plastic-free aqueous barrier coatings, paper-based formats, and bioplastics. Upcycled waste is also finding its place in the mix. This shift is not just driven by numbers; it is fueled by consumer demand, government regulations and corporate sustainability goals.

The session ended with a hearty Vote of Thanks proposed by Shri Rohit Surana, Chairman, Council on Sustainability & Environmental Resources Management, MCCI.