India has launched a new national initiative to encourage sustainable packaging innovation with the goal of startups and student entrepreneurs.
The National Packaging Innovation Challenge, initiated by the Indian Packaging Institute (IIP), aims to generate scalable, ecologically conscious solutions to support domestic industry and export growth.
The challenge is in line with India’s broader strategy to promote self-reliance through the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, with a particular focus on improving packaging standards for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
At a launch conference in New Delhi, IIP Chairman Sunil Jain highlighted the need for innovative approaches to minimize environmental impacts while meeting global trade needs.
Participants were asked to develop alternatives to traditional plastic packaging and include biodegradable, recyclable and reusable materials that are aligned with global sustainability goals.
As part of the program, IIP hosted the live “Packathon,” a timed contest where participants address realistic packaging challenges posed by industry partners.
The competition enables innovators to provide practical, sustainable solutions to sectors such as food, healthcare and logistics, where packaging plays a crucial role in safety, shelf life and transportation efficiency.
Tanweer Alam, additional director of IIP, pointed out that global demand for sustainable packaging is creating new market opportunities for emerging economies.
He pointed out that India's manufacturing capabilities and growing technical talents are the main advantages of providing green packaging to the international market.
According to industry estimates, the global biodegradable packaging market is expected to rise from $98.7 billion in 2023 to $176.9 billion in 2032. This trend provides a significant opportunity for countries such as India to major suppliers of sustainable packaging materials.
India's plastics export industry is currently worth $12 billion and is expected to reach $25 billion by 2027.
Industry experts believe that advancing sustainable packaging technology may be a key factor in achieving this growth.
As global supply chains are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint, demand for innovation is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years.
“India launches national challenge to reshape its packaging sector” was originally created and released by global equity brand packaging Gateway.
