In an interview with Rahul Nene, sustainability head, Huhtamaki India, we discuss sustainability, and how Huhtamaki has been responding to the increasing demand for sustainable and innovative technology in the packaging industry.

The Packman: Please tell us about two recent developments by Huhtamaki directed toward sustainability.

Rahul Nene: At Huhtamaki, sustainability is an integral part of our strategy and everyday work. We embed sustainability in everything we do and strive to do business in a financially, environmentally, and socially responsible way. In India, we have been working on a wide range of areas when it comes to sustainability, from the product stewardship perspective and our operational footprint. Two such key developments that we have undertaken at Huhtamaki India are:

A. Drive to make our products recyclable, reusable, or compostable: Through our program called Blueloop, massive efforts are being taken across teams to develop packaging solutions that enable circularity in the flexible packaging eco-system. We have a 2030 target to make 100% of our products either recyclable, reusable, or compostable and we have been making significant progress on this front. We have been innovating to develop recyclable packaging while ensuring their robust functionality, thus leading towards fulfillment of our sustainability goals as well as those of our customers.

B. We recently established a state-of-the-art multi-layered plastics recycling plant under the Huhtamaki foundation, which aims at recycling post-consumer use MLP waste that otherwise would have gone to landfills and dumping grounds. Located in Khopoli, Maharashtra, the idea behind setting up this plant has been to recycle multi-layered plastic which is said to be difficult to recycle and hence, ends up in landfills otherwise. We have been working to collect post-consumer waste from nearby cities like Pune and have been recycling it into either value-added products or granules, which can further be used in place of virgin plastic. The focus has also been to maintain good control on the recycling process and ensure ethical processes to run the plant.

The Packman: What according to you are the challenges in the overall ecosystem in the implementation of sustainable practices?

Rahul Nene: I would not like to call out any particular aspect as a challenge, but, more of an opportunity. A lot of organizations – public and private, regulatory bodies, non-profit organizations and individuals are doing a lot many things when it comes to sustainability. What I feel is that at times, a holistic and cohesive effort is missing. Through collective actions and sharing of best practices, entities can look at tackling issues and making an impact on a larger scale, beyond their own footprint. An example of one such collective effort is the India Plastics Pact of which we are a part. Stakeholders from all sections of the plastics value chain are coming together to develop and implement strong standards and processes for managing plastics and plastic packaging. So, I would look forward to the development of more such cohesive actions in the field of sustainability.

The Packman: How should the government and regulatory bodies intervene in helping the packaging industry achieve its sustainability potential?

Rahul Nene: Especially in the last six years, the regulatory bodies have been taking significant steps to implement sound practices to manage the ecosystem of plastic packaging. The plastic waste management rules, the Extended Producers’ Responsibility (EPR) mandate, ban on single-use plastics are all examples of these. So, this has been a great start. A key aspect that the regulatory bodies need to look at is the possibility of standardization. If policies can help encourage standardization of packaging, at least in some sectors, it could really boost the development of a circular and sustainable economy around plastic packaging. Additionally, some terms like ‘Sustainable packaging’ and ‘recycling’ end up being used loosely when not clearly defined. If regulations are able to define them in the Indian context, it will help provide clarity and ensure that every organization stays on a common goal.

The Packman: Looking ahead, how do you think the sustainability debate will evolve in the coming years

Rahul Nene: Honestly, there is no debate anymore on sustainability. The world can no longer deny its importance of it, in fact it now remains as the single biggest agenda for the human race at large. In the coming years, I see sustainability touching professions that traditionally were not thought to be anything related to it. Today, we are seeing finance professionals, marketing professionals getting involved in the development of sustainable practices. I see the need for ‘sustainability’ to be a value and not a priority and I hope that we progress in that direction in the days to come.

The Packman: How do you envisage your company changing the industry in the coming years?

Rahul Nene: Packaging in itself is a concept that helps sustainability. The negative social and environmental impacts of spoilt food for example are massive and sound packaging helps avoid this. What the world of packaging is now progressing is implementation of a circular and sustainable economy, and Huhtamaki is at the forefront of this drive. Innovation has been a strength of Huhtamaki and by harnessing it, we envision ourselves to be the leader in developing sustainable packaging solutions. We look to work with our customers and other members of our value chain to develop path-breaking packaging solutions that are able to create a benchmark in the industry when it comes to sustainable packaging. At large, we look to work beyond our footprint to create a positive social impact through our products and operations.