New Tech Solutions Vital for Sustainable Packaging, Says Expert

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Cutting-edge technologies as well as collective efforts are essential for sustainable packaging solutions to meet the ‘Net-Zero’ mission, said Prof GD Yadav, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, today.

“Ban on plastics will not yield any significant result. But the solution is to come up with new technologies,” Prof Yadav remarked while speaking at the conclave on ‘Sustainable Packaging Solutions for Net-Zero Future,’ organised by CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) at its Pappanamcode campus in the city.

Dr C Anandharamakrishnan, Director of CSIR-NIIST, presided over. The conclave is part of the year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations of CSIR-NIIST.

Professor Yadav, a Padma Shri awardee, emphasised that chemical recycling should be a central focus of our policies. He stated that, alongside the principles of “Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce,” we should also adopt practices like “Refuse” and “Repurpose” to help lower our carbon footprints.

“Last year, globally, the carbon dioxide emission from fossil fuels was 36.8 gigatons. India’s contribution is 2.622 gigatons, and we need a policy to bring it down to zero by 2050 instead of 2070,” he opined.

“Our technologies must reduce the carbon footprint by developing better catalysts, reactors and processes. In 2050, there will not be anything virgin; it will be all recycled, so our technology must look at recycling materials,” he added.

In his speech, Dr Anandharamakrishnan urged a comprehensive approach to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly packaging alternatives.

“CSIR-NIIST focuses on the manufacturing of comprehensive alternatives. We hope that we can fulfil it in the next three years with the support of eight CSIR labs and industry sector,” he said.

Dr Anandharamakrishnan said as per a recent study, microplastics have been found in brain tissues, liver and kidney. Some other reports also manifested that microplastics are there in mother’s milk.

Rajesh Kumar Mishra, Additional Director General of Foreign Trade and Director of the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) in Mumbai, emphasised the need for consumers to take responsibility for achieving sustainable packaging targets. He also urged institutions such as CSIR-NIIST to collaborate with NCERT and other organisations to incorporate the topic of sustainable packaging into school curricula.

Dr. Sukumar Devotta, Professor of Eminence at Anna University in Chennai, stated that India has the potential to lead globally in sustainable packaging solutions through research institutions like CSIR-NIIST.

Other experts who spoke include Dr Pramod Kumbhar, President and Chief Technology Officer at Praj Matrix R&D; Dr Suresh Ramamurthi, Head of the ITC Life Sciences and Technology Centre; Dr P. Nishy, Chief Scientist and Head of BDD at CSIR-NIIST; and Dr V. Karunakaran, Senior Principal Scientist and Head of PMED at CSIR-NIIST.

In 2024, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) launched the National Mission on Sustainable Packaging Solutions. This mission aims for a Net-Zero Future and addresses critical environmental issues related to packaging, particularly plastic waste and microplastics. Led by CSIR-NIIST, it involves the collaboration of eight CSIR labs and several industry partners. It fosters a multidisciplinary approach that combines research, innovation, and practical solutions across various sectors.

Experts and industry stakeholders provided insights during panel sessions at the conclave on topics such as ‘Bio-Polymers: Sourcing and Future Applications,’ ‘Circular Economy for Sustainable Packaging,’ and ‘Microplastics, Migrants, Testing, Policies, and Regulations.’

CSIR-NIIST, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in October 2025, is a constituent laboratory of CSIR under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India.