Government committed to promoting paper
In a question raised at Lok Sabha, whether the government has taken cognisance of the fact that the per capita paper consumption in the country is currently at a low of 16-kg, as compared to the global average of 57-kg, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jitin Prasada, has expressed the hope that per capital consumption would rise in the future.
17 Mar 2025 | 796 Views | By PrintWeek Team
In a release, shared by Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on 11 March, Prasada said, “The focus on sustainability and steps such as the ban on single-use plastic have a positive impact on the demand for paper-based packaging materials.
He said the growth prospect can also be linked to increasing education and literacy levels and the resultant increased demand for printed material, and ancillary paper demand on account of manufacturing growth due to various government initiatives.
The minister says paper is one of the most environmentally friendly products as it is produced from renewable and sustainable resources, and thus, it is biodegradable and recyclable.
Moreover, the government has notified the environmental standards for various industries, including the pulp and paper industry under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
The government has also developed standard operating procedures (SOP) for the utilisation of Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) sludge and process sludge from the pulp and paper industry.
Meanwhile, the India paper packaging market size reached USD 18.6-billion in 2024. According to IMARC Group, the market is expected to reach USD 28.3-billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 4.56% during 2025-2033.
The continuously emerging demand from the food and beverage (F&B), healthcare and personal care sectors represents one of the primary factors bolstering the paper packaging market growth in India.
Moreover, the government of India is undertaking numerous initiatives to minimise the usage of single-use plastics, which is influencing business firms to adopt sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions, thereby strengthening the market growth.