At IntraPac India 2025, GLS Speciality Chemicals used the platform to position itself as a solutions partner for a packaging industry navigating the twin pressures of sustainability and compliance. In an interaction with Angshuman Mukherjee, CEO, and Neelakamal Mohapatra, CTO, the company outlined how its inks, coatings, and adhesive technologies are being engineered to meet India’s unique market realities while aligning with global circular economy goals.
GLS showcased a comprehensive, sustainability-led portfolio spanning water-based, solvent-less, VOC-free, NTNK and PVC-free printing inks, along with 1K and 2K lamination adhesives. The display also featured barrier, release, heat-seal and specialty functional coatings, supported by PU, PUD and specialty additives. According to the company, the emphasis was firmly on circular-economy-ready solutions for both flexible and paper-based packaging structures, especially in food service and FMCG applications.
Addressing the growing food service packaging segment in India, Angshuman Mukherjee, CEO, GLS Speciality Chemicals, explained that GLS has deliberately designed its inks and coatings to work under challenging local conditions. “Our inks and coatings are specifically engineered for Indian food service conditions, considering high humidity, variable substrates, high-speed printing, and regulatory compliance,” he said. He added that the company offers food-contact-compliant, low-migration and low-odour systems that dry quickly and perform reliably across paper, films and laminated structures. The objective, he noted, is to ensure safety and performance without compromising scalability for converters operating at volume.
A key focus area at the show was paper-based packaging, particularly as brands look to move away from plastic-heavy structures. Neelakamal Mohapatra, CTO, GLS Speciality Chemicals, highlighted the role of GLS’s aqueous barrier and heat-seal coatings in enabling this transition. He explained that these coatings provide resistance to oil, grease, moisture and oxygen, while still maintaining repulpability and recyclability. “They allow replacement of PE extrusion or plastic lamination, enabling paper structures to remain mono-material or recycling-friendly, without compromising functional performance,” he said, underlining their relevance for food service and takeaway packaging.
Beyond products, GLS positioned itself as a technical partner to converters and brand owners navigating the shift to sustainable formats. Mohapatra said the company supports customers through end-to-end technical engagement, starting from substrate selection and formulation customization to line trials, process optimization and compliance documentation. Scale-up support is also a critical part of the offering. According to him, close collaboration with converters and brand owners helps ensure that the transition to sustainable packaging is smooth and risk-mitigated, rather than disruptive.
R&D capability emerged as another cornerstone of GLS’s strategy. Mohapatra pointed out that the company’s in-house Innovation and Analytical Centre is designed to simulate real Indian production conditions. Research efforts are focused not only on performance, but also on cost optimization, raw material availability and adaptability to India’s climatic conditions. Regulatory readiness, he added, is built into the development process, ensuring that solutions are robust, scalable and commercially viable for Indian converters rather than remaining niche or experimental.
When asked about the broader challenges facing the packaging industry in its move towards recyclability and circularity, Mukherjee was candid. He observed that balancing functionality, cost, compliance and recyclability remains the biggest hurdle. While many sustainable alternatives are available, they often struggle with performance consistency or supply-chain readiness. Mukherjee stressed that industry-wide collaboration among material suppliers, converters, recyclers and policymakers is essential to bridge this gap and make circular solutions viable at scale.
The transition from plastics to paper structures, in particular, presents practical challenges for converters. Mukherjee noted that issues such as barrier performance, sealability, machinability and moisture resistance frequently arise during this shift. GLS, he said, addresses these concerns through engineered aqueous coatings and tailored ink systems, backed by on-site trials and hands-on process guidance. This approach helps ensure that paper-based structures are not just sustainable in principle, but capable of meeting real-world packaging demands.
Looking ahead, GLS sees strong growth potential for sustainable paper-based packaging in India. Mukherjee believes demand will accelerate rapidly, driven by tightening regulations, brand sustainability commitments and rising consumer awareness. He identified quick service restaurants, food service applications and FMCG secondary packaging as key growth drivers in the near term.
Outlining the company’s roadmap for its circular economy coatings business in India, Mukherjee said GLS is focused on expanding its range of water-based barrier, heat-seal and functional coatings that support recyclable, compostable and plastic-reduced structures. Investments are being made in new chemistries, application technologies and strategic partnerships to speed up adoption. “Our goal is to scale circular-economy solutions across India in a way that makes commercial and operational sense for the entire value chain,” he said.
