Need For Sustainable Packaging In Meat Industry

Notwithstanding the perception of India is largely a vegetarian country, the meat production in the country is estimated to be around 6.3 million tonnes, which makes it the fifth largest producer of meat in the world.

- Lisa Suwal

As of 2016, India exported $5 billion worth of meat per year. By 2022, the Indian meat market is estimated to touch $65 billion as compared to $31 billion in 2018 which indicates a CAGR of 20 percent.

According to Central Pollution Study board, India produces 26,000 tonnes of plastic every day. Data provided by FICCI confirms that the plastic packaging industry in India is worth $32 billion.

Consumers are Demanding Sustainability

As of today, more than 50 percent of consumers in the US take recyclability, sustainability, and biodegradability of packaging into account while purchasing products. In fact, according to a study done by Dataessential, 43 percent of consumers believe that it is important for retail packaging to be recyclable and reusable.

Sustainable packaging is emerging as one of the most important dynamics in the meat industry. Even though it is inevitable that this is the way forward, businesses are still divided about the tangible benefits that sustainable packing can offer. Due to misconceptions, it is thought that any kind of sustainable business practice results in cost escalations. To debunk this myth, it is important to look at the need for sustainable packing in the meat industry.

Lowers Carbon Footprint: increasing the usage of sustainable packaging drastically reduces carbon emissions. Sustainable packaging products are light, use renewable fibers and optimized manufacturing processes. This enables them to substantially reduce their carbon footprint from cradle to gate.