Packaging is a critical component of the national and international response to the core concerns of sustainable food consumption, which is obviously about reducing the environmental footprint of packaged food. An innovative sustainable packaging solution reduces food waste and loss while also addressing food safety concerns by preventing food-borne illnesses and chemical contamination. Furthermore, it must address the long-term critical issue of persistent plastic trash accumulation in the environment and the conservation of oil and food material resources.

Ghaziabad-based Mpacks is a manufacturer of paper-based food packaging. According to the most recent industry norms and standards, it is engaged in the development of a comprehensive variety of environmentally friendly packaging solutions. Its packaging is designed in-house by an in-house research and development team and is entirely comprised of ecologically friendly paperboard resources. The machines the company uses for producing its food packaging are all imported from China. The customers are hotels, restaurants, QSR/fast food, bakery, sweetshops, and other catering establishments.

Top-notch packaging for food items

Mpacks is dedicated to first-class packaging solutions for the food sector. A ready range of 41 products includes paper dips, containers, flat bowls, lunch boxes, food boxes, single-wall paper glasses, double-wall paper glasses, glass lids, and noodle boxes. At the recently concluded PackPlus 2021 in Delhi, Anup Bajaj, chief executive officer of Mpacks spoke with the Packaging South Asia team, “Our products are based on the current on-the-go lifestyle trends and offer great on-shelf-appeal.”

Mpacks showcases wide range of sustainable paper food packaging at packPlus 2021.
photo PSA

Mpacks takes in most of its papercraft material from Indian sources and some are imported from China for high-quality food-grade substrates. It produces 8, 12, 16-ounce (240 ml, 360 ml, 480 ml) cups and containers using paperboards with thicknesses of about 300 gsm. Providing complete solutions for food packaging, dining, and takeaways, and traveling, its customers include some of the significant brands in the country, such as Wok Man, Haldirams, Biryani-by-Kilo, Bercos, Big Brother Burger, Al-baik, and several others.

USPs of Mpacks – hot food-friendly and compostable materials

Mpacks packaging is water and greaseproof, hot content friendly, microwavable, tableware alternative. The custom and recyclable packaging uncaps a brand’s potential. Its paper lids for paper coffee cups are spillproof with five sizes on one single lid. The materials which Mpacks uses for its food packaging solutions can be disposed of in 84 days in a backyard compost.

On the company’s expansion plan, Bajaj mentions, “Today every company is trying to make sustainable products, but our company is a step ahead, and in the near future, new biodegradable paper laminates would come into the market.”

Our view

The Covid-19 pandemic brings new challenges among businesses and pushes them to innovate and adopt flexible and sustainable food packaging solutions. Before the pandemic, one new branded fast food outlet opened in India each day. And this is not something new to our culture, the consumption of food out of the home, in dhabhas, street food, on railway platforms, and in trains and planes is an immense industry.

There are lifestyle changes such as the dabbawalas of Mumbai threatened by quick delivery services of pizzas and various exotic cooked meals, but the overwhelming need for food out of home and food on the move is a necessary reality fueling a growing economy at every level. Out-of-home food, and even home delivery, quick service are nothing new, but as they take on a modern packaged avatar, they need to be sustainable and replace the use of plastic with food-grade and food-friendly paper-based recyclable and compostable solutions.