The advantages of aseptic cartons and their role in the Indian packaging industry
The Indian packaging industry has undergone a massive transformation in the last few years. Aseptic cartons are today driving much of this evolution, thanks to the many benefits they offer.
Over the past few years, the packaging sector in India has seen a tremendous change, driven by new market trends, and shifting consumer demand. Not only have our lifestyles gotten busier and busier, a noticeable demographic shift in consumer population is also evident today. With an increasing number of young consumers and an upwardly mobile urban population, the Indian packaging market is demonstrating a clear preference for convenience products, as they fit into the contemporary, fast-paced lifestyle.
The Indian packaging industry is predicted to generate USD 204.81 billion by 2025, and plays a crucial role in addressing the demands and expectations of today's consumers. When purchasing products, a growing number of consumers search for qualities like On-the-Go packaging and ease of usage. Packaging has evolved into an indispensable component of the whole product experience as brands and manufacturers seek to increase product traction. In reality, packaging is also the very first impression that customers have of the brand and the product, at the Point of Sale (POS). It plays a role in piquing consumers' interest and persuading them to buy. It also highlights the brand's promise right on the retail shelf.
Aseptic packaging in a nutshell
One of the key developments accompanying this ongoing paradigm shift of the Indian packaging sector is the growing popularity of aseptic liquid packaging, which enables a liquid product to stay sterile and free of microorganisms for a longer amount of time without refrigeration. Reports state that the aseptic liquid packaging market in India is growing at a rate of 17–18% annually. The market is anticipated to grow twofold over the following five years, reaching over 20 billion packets annually. Aseptic cartons are becoming more and more widely adopted, and this is due to a number of advantages they have over other types of packing. Some of their greatest benefits are as follows:
Storability
The first and most evident benefit is shelf stability at room temperature while maintaining the items' nutritive and sensory quality. Since refrigeration is not required in any part of the supply chain, this attribute provides convenience that goes above and beyond for all stakeholders. When stored without opening, food and drink items in aseptic packs can be safely opened and consumed, up to a year from the manufacturing date, while maintaining their nutritional content & flavor. This has the potential to be extremely important in maintaining global food security. This benefit was dramatically illustrated during the recent pandemic, when customers stocked up on necessities and preferred items while businesses were still able to operate their warehouses without cold chain challenges. Food security is still a problem on a worldwide scale even today, and aseptic packaging can be useful in preventing food waste in turbulent weather conditions.
Reducing wastage
The world at large is plagued by food waste, which includes inappropriate storage, surplus crops, inefficient industrial techniques, and just throwing away superfluous food. Therefore, it may appear difficult to reduce food loss; but, by using aseptic packaging technology properly, these problems can be overcome. For instance, producers can purchase extra harvest to store for later while avoiding the need for refrigeration. Additionally, they can guarantee less food loss during the processing and filling stage using innovative filling technology with lowest waste rates such as that offered by SIG.
Flexible filling and packaging
Flexibility is a primary requirement for producers as consumer demands change. Aseptic packaging, particularly SIG's wide selection of carton packs, have the potential to really shine in this situation. In addition to keeping the product's nutritional benefits within, manufacturers can also include extras based on market demand. The first business in the Indian market to adopt SIG's solutions to offer innovation and product differentiation was Kandhari Beverages, a bottling partner of Coca-Cola India. In 2019, it chose SIG’s high-performance filling system CFA 1224-36 with drinksplus option, that allows aseptic filling of our combiblocXSlim packs in nine different volume sizes, ranging from 80 to 200 ml.
Volume flexibility
Adapting pack sizes to different market requirements can help producers meet two priorities: maintaining price points and giving customers the proper amount of food to prevent waste. With the help of SIG's drinksplus solution and the volume flexibility of its filling machines, food and beverage producers can also develop entirely new product segments and experiential offerings for consumers. Additionally, SIG filling equipment enables producers to expand and innovate even further by making it quick and simple to transition between various formats and volumes during production.
Sustainability
Last but not the least, packaging should take environmental effect into account since even products that are sourced sustainably can lose their attractiveness if the packaging is not eco-friendly. Aseptic cartons excel here, with SIG's cartons having a 28%–70% lower carbon footprint than most conventional alternatives.
SIG has further created a benchmark for the sector by offering aseptic cartons without the aluminum layer – the material in aseptic carton structures that makes approximately 5% of the carton weight but about 20-30% of its carbon footprint. Among these alu-free aseptic carton structures, SIGNATURE 100 is the very first that is 100% linked to renewable plant-based materials. In keeping with SIG’s commitment to the environment, SIGNATURE CIRCULAR is the world’s first and only aseptic carton packaging material linked to post-consumer recycled plastics, keeping valuable materials in circulation for longer. As the aseptic packaging market in the nation continues to grow, SIG's extensive portfolio of packaging solutions will assist manufacturers in considerably increasing their brand engagement while having a positive environmental impact.