National Paper Day meet in Mumbai has a pro-paper message

Right at the outset, Nimesh Vora of Srinivas Papers shared some data about the paper trade. He said, "India is the only market in the world where the writing and printing grades; as well as packaging segments are growing together consistently. New technologies in the printing and converting sector that started in Europe are being installed in India within 3-4 months. There will be a shift of approximately 1.5% annual growth from plastic packaging to paper packaging."

He said, "9.5-10% growth is visible and possible in the next two years. Let’s be happy promoting and selling paper."

Vora provided a snapshot of paper consumption in India. This was: Writing and Printing (W&P) is 5.5 million tonnes; recycled paperboards is 4.2 million tonnes and virgin paperboards is 1.3 million tonnes. Meanwhile, kraft paper and paperboards is 9.0 million tonnes; newsprint is 2.0 million tonnes; and tissues and special: 0.9 million tonnes. According to Vora, this adds up to 23 million tonnes.

Vora added that the Indian per capita consumption is 16 kgs (per annum) and China is 85-90 kgs per capita p.a. Here he pointed out, India is 16% of the world population and 5.5% of the world paper consumer. Whereas China is 16% of the world population and 23% of the world paper consumer.

He said, the education sector constitutes approximately 60% of W&P, and "the runway for growth is very wide and long".

Later, Hiren Karia of Jay Raj Fine Paper explained the importance of 1 August, which is known in India as National Paper Day. The story behind 1 August is as follows: the handmade paper community was prosperous prior to the arrival of the British colonial regime. However, it was the saga of rise and fall during the British regime. It suffered setbacks because mill made paper was imported by the British rulers from England. The paper, which was produced in larger quantities, was smooth and even economical.

He said, "The revival of the handmade paper community was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi as part of the Swadeshi movement. It was Pune-based chemical scientist KB Joshi who introduced to Gandhi Ji the idea of making paper out of waste material. Excited at the prospect of making eco-friendly paper and employment generation, Gandhi ji advised Joshi to set up a commercial unit to produce handmade paper. Thus, the dream unit was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on 1 August, 1940, in Pune. The Constitution of India was written and printed on paper made in this unit."

The Federation of Paper Traders Associations (FPTA) of India, the apex body of paper traders in the country has in its fold 37 member associations from all over the country and represents more than 6,000 paper traders of the country. In 2017, the FPTA started celebrating Paper Day annually on 1 August to convey and share the story of paper, removing doubts and clarifying myths about paper with the common man. It's been four years since the start of this initiative. The FPTA has been successful in having a postage stamp released.

The meeting was presided over by PTA President Ashok Kabra, FPTA President nominee Mehul Mehta, and the committee members of The Paper Traders Association, Mumbai.

Karia said, "It has printed literature on awareness of paper in national and regional print media, arranged visits to schools, colleges, corporate houses and public places for removal of doubts and myths, displayed posters nationwide, use of stickers and distribution of handbills, arranged publicity through various mediums, organised essay writing, letter writing, drawing, poetry, and elocution contests, distribution and planting of saplings, and several other activities."

Karia highlighted an All India paper dealer survey, which is being conducted along with the support of PrintWeek magazine. The survey is part of the FPTA's AGM get-together in Goa in September.