Food wastage is a large problem in India, which can be reduced by using
proper packaging to pack the Processed Foods. Moreover, the consumption of
processed food is progressing in India. Considering this it is prudent to take
steps to promote environment-friendly packaging from the starting levels.
Environment-friendly packaging is a nascent concept in India when we consider
the fact the it is a necessity of the modern times . However, considering the
traditional concept of the packaging, then even today in hinterland and towns,
we see earthen utensils and pots are in use for local food processing and
packaging needs. These traditional Packaging Material and earthen cups are
disappearing very fast with the changing requirements for packaging for the
modern times.
More colorful packaging based on plastics, foil and paper materials is
the need of the time to suits the packaging needs of the modern times. However,
there are several issues resulting from the use of these modern packaging
styles, and India is still in the stage of moving towards achieving higher per
capita consumption of Packaging Material, the reason being the lack of general
awareness about environment-friendly packaging is not matured.
As there is no
government body to regulate production and encourage the use of
environment-friendly packaging, India has not made any significant progress in
this regard. Though the Food Processing Industry has shown keen interest in
packaging of products in
environment-friendly packaging materials, which are biodegradable, though it is
still at a dialogue and discussion levels. Today, the market has been
increasingly conscious about the packaging and packaging materials such as
carry bags and trash bags, they are made of 100 per cent recyclable plastics,
which is a appreciable. However, there is little change in terms of actual
product packaging.
The picture will not change unless a large population of the
country is made aware of the need for green packaging and environment-friendly
packaging materials.
We will not see a big change in demand and it will be
supplied to the general lot. Without such demands of more environment-friendly
packaging and packaging material, investments and R&D efforts will be hard
to be materialized.