In an interaction with Packaging South Asia, Sanjay Gupta, senior vice president of DS Group, discussed sustainability as the core behind all the company’s initiatives. Gupta discussed minimizing the environmental footprint of packaging, particularly plastic containers and flexible packaging. Emphasizing the company’s mantra— “Less is more,” he said empowering consumers to join the movement will pave the path toward a sustainable future.
As Gupta said at the recent Think Circle event at the Finland embassy organized by Huhtamaki, “Sustainable packaging is neither complicated nor more expensive. The best way to get into the design for recyclable packaging is to have conviction – to start doing it and the subsequent learning and volumes will necessarily bring viability to the process.”
The group’s packaging journey began in 2001 through a joint venture with Swiss packaging major Canpack – opening a corrugated box division in Guwahati’s Bamunimaidam industrial area, aiming to bring eco-friendly packaging to India. A second plant in Bonda, on Guwahati’s outskirts was commissioned in 2007 to manufacture flexible packaging.
Gupta says that DS Group has been incorporating PCR content into its packaging for several years before it became a mandate in the EUR regulations of February 2022. He explained the need for sustainable practices to be seen and understood as a part of our culture. “These are very much at the core of Hindu scripture,” he said, referring to several religious texts. . . In addition, the DS Group places significant emphasis on incorporating digital technologies to enhance packaging functionality.”
Lightweighting and alternative materials
rPet Jar of Pulse candy. Photo PSAThe focus of the group’s packaging division, he says, is on exploring alternative, lightweight materials that offer exceptional durability. This reduces the amount of material needed without compromising product protection. “We are reducing air pockets and other void fillers such as excess headspace in products. We are utilizing innovative design solutions and packing techniques to minimize empty spaces within the packaging,” he adds.
In 2021, the DS Group introduced its rPET jar using a combination of virgin and recycled PET granules for its popular Pulse candy or confectionery packaging. Recycled PET has a much lower carbon footprint than the exclusive use of virgin PET.
Each Pulse candy is packed in a printed wrapper made from 100% recyclable monomaterial BOPP and CPP films. The 1800 ml jar is made from a combination of virgin PET and rPET based on locally recycled PET from collected, sorted, cleaned, and shredded post-consumer PET waste, and then transformed into rPET pellets suitable for new packaging. In this case, the rPET polymer is produced by a breakthrough filtration technology to provide the purity of virgin polymers. With a no objection letter for food contact applications under Conditions of Use B to H from the USFDA, the material is also Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified. (The entire list of conditions is from A to J).
The group’s R&D division continuously researches and explores the use of bio-based materials such as bamboo and agricultural waste and the use of environment-friendly alternatives. The company also plans to organize several campaigns promoting the necessity of disposal in the appropriate waste streams for recycling among consumers.
Claiming that the DS Group’s packaging division is set to evolve further, with a continued focus on sustainability, he emphasized the development of innovative packaging materials derived from renewable resources. This includes exploring plant-based polymers and recycled content, as well as investing in advanced recycling technologies and closed-loop systems.
DS Group’s Pulse candy. Photo PSA“Incorporating post-consumer recycled content (PCR) into packaging materials gives plastic bottles, paper cartons, and other materials a second life, significantly reducing reliance on virgin resources. Procuring PCR materials becomes a relevant aspect of the group’s sustainable initiatives. We are exploring ways to utilize pre-consumer waste, diverting industrial by-products from landfills and integrating them into our packaging,” Gupta said.
Project Mogra Kala
In partnership with Uma Polymers, DS Group’s packaging unit has launched Project Mogra Kala, under the circular economy concept. Discarded plastic laminate manufacturing waste is given a new lease on life – carefully sorted and cleaned by Uma Polymers and spun into yarn using traditional Charkha methods. The yarn is woven into fabric on handlooms, dyed, printed, or embroidered to create intricately designed ropes. These ropes are crafted into high-quality, sustainable products including bags, doormats, and stationery items.
