The bakery industry in the country is seriously considering an alternative packaging material to be used in place of either plastic or polypropylene, which the industry has been using for the past several decades.
This is because, in recent times, with the debate on polythene heating up, the industry has got serious on finding an alternative.
In this regard, options such as old paper bags and multilayer packaging have been considered, but being a low margin industry, experts have questioned their feasibility.
Big players did shift from polythene to upgraded biodegradable material but that would prove too costly for small and medium players, who actually rule the bakery segment, according to an industry expert.
“Plastic suits the cost efficiency of the bakery industry. The additives used for making plastic biodegradable will prove too dear to the industry,” pointed out Monika Rawat of Confederation of Indian Food Traders Industries.
Also the additive is not made in India but imported. There are also trials going on in the use of multilayer packaging for the industry. But again the cost-effectiveness would be the driving force, she added.
Not only the material but also the technology and machinery for packaging would be needed to be upgraded, stated another industry expert.
According to D V Malhan, senior VP, Society of Bakers, the industry is seriously considering a change to opt for a better alternative than polythene.
“The bakery products are perishable and mostly consumed in a day or two, particularly the bread items. Therefore polythene suits the need but as we’re progressing towards shunning it, there is a need to update ourselves about the modern methodology of packing our bakery products,” he said.
