: Environmentally sustainable logistics requires efficient packaging #FinanceIndia #StockMarketNEWS Environmentally sustainable logistics requires efficient packaging New Dlehi, Feb 10 (KNN) Aiming

@StockMarketNEWS Mon 15 Feb, 2021

Posted in: #FinanceIndia #StockMarketNEWS

Environmentally sustainable logistics requires efficient packaging #FinanceIndia #StockMarketNEWS
Environmentally sustainable logistics requires efficient packaging New Dlehi, Feb 10 (KNN) Aiming to promote efficient and sustainable packaging, the Logistics Division of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry organised a meeting on 9th February with stakeholders.

Pawan Agarwal, Special Secretary (Logistics) observed that packaging serves as the interface between users and logistics companies and efficient and sustainable packaging is the key to environmentally sustainable logistics.

He said packaging deserves greater attention from improving the overall logistical efficiency perspective.

The consultation was organised to define the scope and the National Packaging Initiative as part of the National Logistics Policy that is currently being finalized. This policy aims to reduce logistics cost, ensure product safety and promote sustainability.

The consultation was held with the Confederation of Indian Industry, various user industries such as food and beverages, e-commerce, 3PLs/4PLs. They all shared their observations on what prevails currently in the Indian packaging space and what needs to be done to achieve better results.

These areas include regulations, standardization/ harmonization, research and development, skilling, sustainability, etc. There was a consensus that secondary and tertiary packaging needs focus.

Valuable inputs on packaging came from the 3PL/4PL participants and more such key players would be involved in the formulation of the National Packaging Initiative. TCI, TVS and APL Logistics were some of the players who represented this segment in Tuesdays virtual meet.

Returnable packaging - another vital aspect from the EXIM angle was highlighted as an important area of intervention. The issue of Palletization and its role in improving operational logistical efficiency through better cubic utilization of space during transportation was also discussed.

Pawan Agarwal pointed out that Logistical efficiency can be driven by the user industry and user ministry and not by the logistic companies. In this connection, he mentioned that an inter-ministerial meeting would be organized to take it forward.

E-Com companies such as Amazon, Flipkart, etc. were urged to invest in sustainable packaging as they are one of the biggest users of packaging material. It was pointed out that dangerous and chemical verticals would also need special attention from the packaging perspective

The Special Secretary advised that research on sustainable packaging solutions implemented overseas needed greater focus. Recycling and reuse of packaging material was also discussed. On skilling, Mr. Agarwal advised the Indian Institute of Packaging to devise short term courses to equip the user industry to skill its workforce.