WhatPackaging? to discuss Circular Economy on 2 December

The event will comprise of panel discussions and expert sessions on topics such as the environmental impact of print and packaging and how to achieve an efficient packaging design.

Speakers from leading companies such as Gaurav Luniya from Manjushree Technopack Limited, ITC PSPD's PN Sridharr and Avery Dennison's Parag Bagade, will put forth their point of view, along with insightful sessions from Hiten Bheda of All India Plastics Manufacturers Association and Ganesh Kumar of DQS India.

The first panel discussion will see Maneesh Sharma of Future Consumer, Deepa Naik of Hershey’s, and Amit Kale of Reliance Retail, shed light on the topic ‘Design thinking for circular economy’. The discussions will revolve around the design and system-level re-think needed to move towards a circular economy. 

As brand owners and retailers, the members of the panel will be involved in effecting key decisions which impact the lifecycle of products and its packaging. The aim of the discussion is to gather views including ideas, opportunities and challenges involved in realising the goal of zero-waste.

The second panel discussion will focus on the topic ‘Engaging stakeholders to achieve zero-waste’. The panelists for this session are Paul Prakash of Pidilite Industries, Muthusubramanian Ramaiah of Packfora, and Aaditya Kashyap of Marks Emballage. It will be moderated by SIES Graduate School of Technology’s Prasad Balan Iyer.

Iyer said, “There are mixed attitudes towards zero-waste to landfill within the industry. While the idea is largely met with enthusiasm from all corners, actually achieving zero waste status can be a challenge. When post-consumer waste ends up in landfills it turns into an environmental hazard and is so mixed up that it's hard to reclaim any tangible value out of it. Overcoming this challenge will require a change in thinking, and we look forward to such thoughts during the discussion.”

According to Dinesh Ingawale, technical editor of WhatPackaging?, the perception is that the circular economy is an extension of recycling. “It is much more than that. Unlike the linear economy which makes, uses and disposes of materials, the circular economy offers options across the chain – uses fewer resources as possible, keeps it in circulation for as long as possible, then recovers and regenerates products at the end of the service life.”

Ingawale added, “That's what we are trying to initiate with the Circular Economy Forum.”

To register for the Circular Economy Forum visit: http://printweekindiaawards.com/showandtell.aspx

For more information, call Avinash Bhakre on +91 9930351282 or write to avinash.bhakre@haymarket.co.in