In an interview with The Packman, Jens Bauer – global sales director – specialties segment, business area sack and Kraft paper, BillerudKorsnäs, provides insights about his company’s business operation in India as well as how it is adopting sustainability for a better future globally. BillerudKorsnäs recently launched a non-fluro chemical grease repellant paper for fast food, snacks and sweets packaging, and are in the process of upgrading it with higher grease resistance in the coming future. Here is an excerpt from the interview.

Mahan Hazarika: Has the pandemic accelerated or slowed the sustainability drive in packaging?

Jens Bauer: The increased need for safe food and e-Commerce activities has definitely accelerated the business. We see strong development in BillerudKorsnäs in liquid packaging board, containerboard, and sack and kraft papers. Increased private and public spending on innovations has triggered very high needs in paper-based building materials like cement sacks and insulation panels. Our medical paper units have been of course under high pressure to satisfy the exploding market need during the pandemic for syringes, needles and other medical devices.

Mahan Hazarika: With sustainability being a new driving force in the industry, how is the industry expanding the possibilities and accelerating the adoption of advanced packaging applications such as molded fiber, plant-based packaging, etc.?

Jens Bauer: BillerudKorsnäs, producing virgin-fiber-based packaging materials, is always working on sustainable packaging solutions. Our mission “We challenge conventional packaging for a sustainable future” is in the DNA of all our employees and we source our wood from sustainable, mainly certified northern forests. We support our customers in reducing food waste but also work hard to reduce the impact of our production units on the environment. We are already 97% fossil-free and can be proud of a low carbon footprint.

Mahan Hazarika: What are some of BillerudKorsnäs’ new products in the pipeline and how much does your R&D and its principles enhance the road ahead?

Jens Bauer: We push multiple activities around new and optimized packaging materials, intensively working on bio-based and compostable barriers, improved medical papers and new products to replace applications that today are typically covered by plastic film. We have launched Repel Pure (non-fluro chemical grease repellant papers) for fast food, snacks and sweets packaging, and we are in the process of launching a Repel Pure version with higher grease resistance in the coming future.

Mahan Hazarika: Can you provide some broad strokes on how BillerudKorsnäs is leveraging its packaging materials for key industries in India?

Jens Bauer: We are providing sustainable paper packaging solutions to replace plastics and other non-sustainable packaging solutions which not only reduce carbon footprint but is also beneficial to nature, is easily recyclable and most importantly is healthy and safe for consumers. The packaging solutions that we provide do not only protect the contents but in fact protect the brand and elevate the appearance and shelf appeal as well. We have undertaken a major project to provide sustainable, environmentally friendly, healthy and safe packaging solutions for the Indian sweets and snacks industry through our Repel Pure range, a non-fluro chemical grease-resistant paper.

Mahan Hazarika: How are you leveraging the food and beverage startups in India?

Jens Bauer: Our local presence in India has helped us to connect and remain in touch with the key stakeholders in the Indian market including the food and beverage startups. We continue to engage with them through a series of webinars, discovery meetings, innovations seminars, mailers and most importantly through packaging media like The Packman. We undertake aggressive marketing initiatives and campaigns targeted towards B2B industry in the packaging, food and beverage landscape in India. Zaheer Abbas, who has been with us for more than six years, is spearheading our efforts in South Asia in the flexible packaging and fast food packaging segments in business development, sales and marketing management.

Mahan Hazarika: What do you reckon are some of the leading sustainability trends in the food and beverage industry?

Jens Bauer: Circular economy in geographical areas where good recycling infrastructure is in place, compostable materials where this is not available to mitigate the stress on the environment. Material reduction through high-strength papers and reusable packaging, like very strong and stable carrier bags. Paper and mono-materials replacing packaging materials, consisting of several different components. A very distinct, impactful, and highly visible initiative by the key players to replace and remove single-use plastics in applications such as straws, bags, lids, and many more.