The initial response for PACK.Nxt registrations is excellent. The time and place seem right for a serious look at technologies and solutions that make the supply chain and packaging smarter. PACK.Nxt has also received the support of ASPA, the Authentication Solutions Providers Association. Rohit Dewan and Naresh Khanna have just returned from attending the fascinating AIPIA Congress and Sustainability Summit in Amsterdam where they understood the need to develop similar proactive solutions for brand protection, transparency and smart sustainability in India and South Asia.

For PACK.Nxt there are several returning sponsors from our previous Smart Packaging events such as Avery Dennison, Fasciculus, Uflex and new sponsors such as the pioneering Indian plastic waste recycler Banyan Nation, Shriram Veritech in brand protection, and the GLS Group a leading upcoming packaging conglomerate in flexible and liquid packaging that is also a producer of film and aluminum foil. Other sponsors such as Monotech Systems are also supporting the event with several others likely to commit in the coming days and weeks.

IPPStar, Packaging South Asia and Threefold are organizing PACK.Nxt, a full-day smart, active, and sustainable packaging in-person event that will address the themes of brand protection, authentication, anti-counterfeiting, and supply chain efficiencies, especially in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and retail.

The conference, supported by the Amsterdam-based AIPIA, will take place at the Lalit, Mumbai on 18 January 2024. The Mumbai conference will address the role of smart packaging in designing recyclable packaging and its recycling. It will discuss the Indian experience of using recyclates and resins in lateral packaging solutions digitally maintaining the transparency and authenticity of the process from waste collection to resin.

As Naresh Khanna, editor, Packaging South Asia, explains, “The Active and intelligent packaging market in India was valued at US$ 1.2 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach US$ 2.1 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 9.5%. Government policy is also supporting this development with regulations on traceability of pharmaceutical products and medical devices particularly important.”

Smart and active packaging can extend shelf-life, reduce microbial and bacterial growth, and monitor the real-time condition of perishables as well as create a more efficient supply chain by better use of data, which can make a major impact on delivering nutrition and saving resources.

PACK.Nxt 2024 at The Lalit, in Mumbai on January 18 is an unparalleled event uniting more than 60 speakers, 350+ delegates, and 100+ companies. It offers a transformative experience and opportunity to explore innovations and cases in smart packaging, sustainability, circularity, brand protection and authentication, and customer engagement.

The discussions will be led by industry leaders, shaping the future of sustainable and responsible packaging in the country. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and stay ahead of the industry trend that connects the entire supply chain of consumer products, food, pharma, FMCG, and retail to digital data for authentication, condition monitoring, and customer engagement. 

Confirmed speakers and new sponsors

The confirmed speakers thus far include Probodh Halde, head, regulatory affairs, Marico India; Barun Banerjee, chief technical officer of Jupiter Laminator and former head of packaging in Nestle; Gurpreet Singh Bhimer, head of Procurement, Indo Nissin; Diwaker Bharadwaj, president (Automation/ Serialization, Packaging & Brand Protection), Polycab India; Bhupesh Kumar Mittal, D&P Global Packaging manager, Bayer Consumer HealthCare; Satish Agrawal, president (Tech.& Oprns), Ajanta Pharma; Ramesh R, director R & D Foods Packaging AMESA, PepsiCo; Amit Milind Kale, Associate vice-president, Sourcing And Supply Chain, Reliance Retail; Sachin Gorade, Deputy General manager, Lupin; Girijesh Srivastava, Global Supply Chain manager, Sun Pharma; Bharat Bhushan Rathi, head, Distribution And Logistics, Mankind Pharma; Kaunain Shahidi, Purchasing manager (Group), Aimarai; PN Sridharr, GM, Sustainable Products And Packaging, ITC; Sridhar J, head (Packaging Development)- Pureplay Skin Sciences; Andrew Manly, director, AIPIA; Pradeep Kumar Pandey, president- Pkg Dev, Emami; Subhra Sankha Nandi, Packaging Commercialisation head RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, Too Yumm – Foods; Santosh Panda; Senior Group manager – Packaging Development, R & D, Britannia Industries; and Naresh Khanna, editor, Packaging South Asia and researcher, IPP Star.

AIPIA supports PACK.Nxt

“AIPIA is the leading association globally for smart technologies so it was an obvious choice to ask them to work with us and help to attract the best possible speakers and technologies. We are very excited at the prospect of bringing PACK.nxt to India. The country and the region are hungry for knowledge about Smart Packaging technologies and we expect huge interest from brands, supply chain actors, and technology providers,” Khanna adds.

Andrew Manly, communications director of AIPIA, said, “We are delighted to be working with two of the most experienced event organizers in the market. IppsStar has more than 40 years of experience in the packaging sector. It has organized almost 40 events for the print and packaging sector in India. Threefold is a leading conference and event organizer with a track record of successful events.”

“India is set to be one of the biggest markets for smart packaging technologies and the packaging sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% to reach a value of US$76 billion by 2025. Both Government and Brand Owners are keen to make sure counterfeiting and gray market issues are addressed and consumer safety improved. So the time is absolutely right to elevate the profile of these technologies across South Asia,” Manly said.