PaperTech 2022 gave an opportunity for industry professionals, technology providers, technical experts and research scholars to learn about the latest developments in the industry in relation with the theme this year through presentations, panel discussions and knowledge sharing sessions. Through the sessions at PaperTech, IPMA was looking to provide for professionals to understand latest technologies and learn from industry experts.

“The paper industry in India is exhibiting one of the fastest growths anywhere in the world and it is most likely to continue in this direction in the coming years as the Indian economy is better placed to weather the storm caused by global upheavals,” said A S Mehta, president, IPMA at the inaugural session of the event. Though demand had understandably become less during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now slowly recovering and has even crossed the pre-pandemic levels. During his speech also empahsised what was need to make the industry world class: ensuring raw material security and changing the way the industry is perceived to attract more talent.

Mehta’s words set the tone for the entire event with various speakers elaborating on the best ways to strengthen the paper industry. The best practices of various companies, new technologies and the latest developments were discussed in detail for the participants understanding. The various sessions at the conference gave a much needed change in perspective for many to understand what needs to be done in order for the industry to thrive and grow. One of the key topics that were discussed was decarbonisation. “Decarbonisation is a relatively new concept. However, it is something that is need of the hour. While focusing on this, we should also ensure that our end goal meets the requirements of the climate goal. The environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are something that we need to align with, whether we like it or not,” shared Ajay Gupta, executive director – paper business, Trident during a session that looked at the decarbonisation roadmap and role of ESG for the Indian pulp and paper sector. The ESG criteria are a set of standards for a company’s behaviour used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments. Other sessions looked at the latest technological advancements in the industry, resource efficiency, environment management and best operating practices among others.