StartupTalky

Tag: Packaging industry

  • Innovating Packaging: Seema Bansal’s Vision for a Sustainable Future at DCG Tech Limited

    In an insightful interview with StartupTalky, Seema Bansal, the visionary Director of DCG Tech Limited, shares her journey and the driving forces behind the company’s success. Founded in 2006, DCG Tech Limited has emerged as a leader in sustainable and innovative packaging solutions. Seema reveals how her passion for innovation and commitment to sustainability have shaped the company’s progress. From utilizing eco-friendly practices to expanding into global markets, Seema’s strategic vision and leadership have positioned DCG Tech Limited as a key player in the packaging industry. Dive into the conversation to explore the milestones, strategies, and plans that define DCG Tech Limited’s remarkable journey.

    StartupTalky: What motivated you to start DCG Tech Limited, and what is your vision for the company?

    Ms. Seema: Starting DCG Tech Limited was driven by my passion for innovation and a desire to address the growing need for sustainable and efficient packaging solutions in India. I saw a significant gap in the market where businesses needed help finding packaging that was both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. This inspired me to create a platform that not only meets these needs but also pushes the boundaries of what packaging can achieve through technology, design, and sustainability.

    My vision for DCG Tech Limited is to be at the forefront of the packaging industry by continually innovating and developing solutions that help businesses reduce waste, lower costs, and enhance the overall consumer experience. I want us to lead the way in sustainability, ensuring our products contribute positively to the environment while setting a high standard for quality and service in the industry. We aim to expand our reach globally, leveraging our data-driven approach and expertise to deliver unparalleled packaging solutions to clients worldwide. Ultimately, I see DCG Tech Limited as a catalyst for change, driving the industry toward a more sustainable and efficient future.

    StartupTalky: How has DCG Tech Limited evolved since its founding in 2006, and what are the key milestones in its journey?

    Ms. Seema: Since its inception in 2006, DCG Tech Limited has evolved into a leading packaging solutions provider, marked by several key milestones that define our growth and success. Early on, we achieved ISO 9001:2018 certification, which underscored our commitment to quality management and delivering superior products and services to our customers. This certification has been a cornerstone, helping us build trust and reliability with over 50,000 clients.

    A major milestone was the opening of our office in the UAE, which marked our expansion into the global market. This step allowed us to better serve our international clients, tap into new opportunities, and strengthen our presence in the Middle East and beyond.

    Another pivotal moment was the establishment of the DCG Tech Ennovation Centre, our dedicated innovation hub focused on research, development, and sustainable packaging solutions. This center has enabled us to push the boundaries of packaging technology, continuously developing products that meet evolving market demands while promoting sustainability.

    These milestones reflect our strategic growth, our commitment to quality and innovation, and our vision to become a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.

    StartupTalky: DCG Tech Limited has become a leading packaging solutions supplier. What strategies have been crucial in achieving this status?

    Ms. Seema: DCG Tech Limited’s rise to prominence as a leading packaging solutions supplier has been driven by several crucial strategies. Firstly, our commitment to innovation has been fundamental. By establishing the DCG Tech Ennovation Centre, we have fostered a culture of continuous improvement and research, enabling us to develop cutting-edge, sustainable packaging solutions that meet evolving market demands.

    Secondly, our focus on quality has been unwavering. Achieving and maintaining ISO 9001:2018 certification has reinforced our dedication to delivering high-quality products and services, ensuring that we consistently meet and exceed customer expectations.

    Thirdly, strategic global expansion has played a key role. Opening our office in the UAE allowed us to tap into new markets, broaden our reach, and better serve international clients, thus strengthening our global presence.

    Lastly, we have prioritized customer-centricity, tailoring our solutions to address the specific needs of our clients and building strong, long-term relationships. These strategies—innovation, quality, global expansion, and customer focus—have been essential in establishing DCG Tech Limited as a leader in the packaging industry.

    StartupTalky: Can you describe technology’s role in optimizing DCG Tech Limited’s packaging solutions?

    Ms. Seema: Technology plays a pivotal role in optimizing DCG Tech Limited’s packaging solutions, driving both efficiency and innovation. At the heart of our approach is the DCG Tech Ennovation Centre, where we harness advanced technologies to develop cutting-edge packaging solutions. This includes the use of smart manufacturing techniques, such as automated production lines and real-time quality monitoring, which enhance precision and reduce waste.

    We also leverage data analytics to gain insights into market trends and customer preferences. This data-driven approach allows us to tailor our solutions to meet specific needs, optimize supply chains, and improve overall performance. For instance, our use of predictive analytics helps us anticipate demand and manage inventory more effectively, reducing lead times and costs.

    Sustainability is another key focus, where technology enables us to explore and implement eco-friendly materials and processes. Innovations in biodegradable and recyclable materials, along with energy-efficient production methods, support our commitment to reducing environmental impact.

    Overall, technology is integral to our strategy, driving continuous improvement, enhancing product quality, and supporting our commitment to sustainability and customer satisfaction.

    StartupTalky: What are the main challenges you’ve faced in growing DCG Tech Limited, and how have you overcome them?

    Ms. Seema: Growing DCG Tech Limited has presented several challenges, which we have addressed through strategic and practical solutions. One significant challenge was scaling our operations while maintaining high standards of quality and customer service. To overcome this, we implemented robust processes and invested in technology that enhances efficiency and ensures consistency
    across all our operations.

    Entering new markets, including international expansion, posed its own set of difficulties. We navigated these by building a skilled team that understands local market dynamics and regulations, enabling us to adapt our approach to different regions effectively.

    Another challenge was integrating sustainability into our packaging solutions without increasing costs or compromising on performance. We tackled this by focusing on innovation and collaborating with partners to develop and implement eco-friendly materials and practices.

    By proactively addressing these challenges with targeted strategies, we have successfully driven our growth and solidified our position as a leader in the packaging industry.

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    StartupTalky: How does DCG Tech Limited ensure that its packaging solutions meet the diverse needs of its over 50,000 customers?

    Ms. Seema: At DCG Tech Limited, meeting the diverse needs of our over 50,000 customers is a top priority. We achieve this through a combination of customized solutions, customer feedback, and continuous innovation.

    Firstly, we prioritize understanding the specific requirements of each client. Our team works closely with customers to develop tailored packaging solutions that address their unique needs, whether it’s for different industries, product types, or environmental considerations.

    We also actively seek and incorporate customer feedback. By maintaining open lines of communication, we gather insights into our clients’ evolving needs and preferences, allowing us to make informed adjustments and improvements to our offerings.

    Continuous innovation is another key factor. We invest in research and development to stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements. This enables us to offer state-of-the-art solutions that not only meet current needs but also anticipate future demands.

    Through these practices—customization, feedback integration, and innovation—we ensure that our packaging solutions remain relevant and effective for our diverse customer base.

    StartupTalky: What steps is DCG Tech Limited taking to incorporate sustainability into its packaging solutions?

    Ms. Seema: At DCG Tech Limited, incorporating sustainability into our packaging solutions revolves around the 2R approach: Reduce and Reuse. This philosophy guides us in developing packaging that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing functionality and value for our customers.

    • Reduce: We focus on reducing waste and resource consumption at every stage of our packaging process. This includes optimizing packaging design to use fewer materials without sacrificing strength or quality. By using lightweight, durable materials and smart engineering, we lower both our carbon footprint and that of our customers. Additionally, we are committed to reducing energy use and emissions in our production processes, further supporting a sustainable approach.
    • Reuse: Our packaging solutions are designed with reusability in mind. We encourage customers to choose packaging that can be repurposed or used multiple times. Whether through innovative design that facilitates easy reuse or through durable materials that extend the life cycle of the packaging, we aim to help our clients move away from single-use products.

    By embedding the principles of Reduce and Reuse into our practices, DCG Tech Limited is actively contributing to a more sustainable packaging industry and encouraging a shift towards a circular economy.

    StartupTalky: What are your future plans for expanding DCG Tech Limited’s product offerings and market reach?

    Ms. Seema: DCG Tech Limited is poised for significant growth by expanding both our product offerings and market reach. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce a wider range of innovative, sustainable packaging solutions that cater to diverse and emerging industry needs. This includes advanced materials that are eco-friendly and provide enhanced performance and versatility for various sectors. We are also venturing into new areas like smart packaging, which integrates technology for improved tracking, shelf-life management, and customer engagement.

    A key focus area is expanding our festive packaging line, which has seen increasing demand. We aim to offer unique, customizable packaging options that cater to different cultural and seasonal celebrations. These festive packaging solutions will combine aesthetics with sustainability, providing our clients with innovative ways to enhance their brand presence during special occasions.

    On the market expansion front, we are focused on strengthening our presence in existing regions while exploring new international opportunities. By building strategic partnerships and investing in local expertise, we can better understand regional needs and deliver targeted solutions. Additionally, enhancing our digital and eCommerce platforms will help us reach a broader audience and offer our packaging solutions globally. Our future plans revolve around leading the industry with sustainable, innovative packaging that meets the evolving needs of a global market.

    StartupTalky: How does DCG Tech Limited plan to leverage its success to explore new business opportunities or markets?

    Ms. Seema: Leveraging our success, we plan to explore new business opportunities and markets by focusing on innovation, strategic partnerships, and global expansion. Building on our reputation as a leader in sustainable and high-quality solutions, we aim to diversify into related areas where we can apply our expertise and offer value to new sectors.

    A key strategy is to expand our portfolio to include smart solutions that integrate technology for enhanced product tracking, safety, and consumer engagement. This approach allows us to tap into high-growth sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, and eCommerce, where such innovations are increasingly sought after.

    We are also looking to enter new geographical markets, especially in emerging economies that present significant growth opportunities. To achieve this, we plan to build strategic partnerships and establish local teams to understand and navigate these markets effectively.

    Additionally, we see potential in extending our expertise to adjacent industries, such as logistics and supply chain management, where our solutions can add considerable value. By leveraging our strengths, forming strategic alliances, and continuously innovating, we aim to explore and capitalize on new opportunities that align with our vision of growth and sustainability.

    StartupTalky: What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs in the packaging and eCommerce sectors?

    Ms. Seema: For aspiring entrepreneurs in the packaging and eCommerce sectors, my advice would be to stay customer-focused and adaptable. Understanding your customers’ needs is crucial. The packaging and eCommerce industries are rapidly evolving, driven by changing consumer preferences and technological advancements. Start by thoroughly researching your market and identifying gaps where you can offer unique value.

    Innovation should be at the core of your strategy. Whether it’s through sustainable materials, smart packaging, or efficient supply chain solutions, find ways to differentiate yourself and stay ahead of industry trends. Don’t be afraid to experiment and invest in R&D; this will help you develop innovative solutions that cater to emerging demands.

    Building strong relationships is equally important. Collaborate with suppliers, partners, and customers to create a network that supports growth and innovation. A strong network can provide the support, feedback, and opportunities needed to scale your business.

    Finally, stay resilient and adaptable. The journey of entrepreneurship comes with its challenges, but maintaining a clear vision, being open to change, and learning from every experience will help you navigate the complexities of the packaging and eCommerce landscape successfully.

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  • We replace 20 Plastics Bags per Second with sustainable packaging- Sushant From Adeera Packaging

    StartupTalky presents Recap’22. This is a series of interviews in which we conduct in-depth discussions with founders & industry leaders to understand their growth in 2022 and their predictions for the future.

    Paper bags are bags made from paper or paperboard, which is a type of thin cardboard. They are commonly used for carrying groceries, food items, and other small items, and are a popular alternative to plastic bags due to their environmental benefits.

    Paper bags are often preferred over plastic bags due to their environmental benefits. They are made from renewable resources and can be recycled, whereas plastic bags are made from non-renewable resources and can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment. In addition, paper bags have a lower carbon footprint than plastic bags, as they require less energy to produce and transport.

    There are also a number of government initiatives in place in India to promote the use of paper bags and other sustainable packaging solutions. For example, the government has implemented a ban on single-use plastic bags in many states and has implemented other policies to encourage the use of alternatives such as paper bags. These initiatives may also contribute to the growth of the paper bag industry in India.

    The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the sustainable packaging market varies depending on the source and the specific segment of the market. However, according to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global sustainable packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% during the forecast period of 2020-2025.

    This growth is driven by increasing consumer awareness about the environmental impact of packaging, government regulations promoting the use of sustainable packaging, and growing demand for eco-friendly products.

    For this Interview, we invited Mr. Sushant Gaur, Founder & CEO of Adeera Packaging, and we talked about the growth, challenges, insights, and future opportunities in the Packaging industry.

    StartupTalky: Sushant, What is Adeera Packaging all about? What was the vision with which you started the company?

    Sushant: Started in 2019, Adeera Packaging is one of India’s largest manufacturers of sustainable packaging. We replace around 20 plastic bags per second with environment-friendly packaging and save 17,000 trees per month from being chopped by using recycled or agro-waste-based paper to make bags.

    Adeera Packaging’s purpose is to make the planet a better place for future generations which we want to achieve by creating a global presence to democratize supplies of environment-friendly packaging.

    StartupTalky: What are the major USPs of your packaging paper?

    Sushant: At Adeera Packaging, we use odor-free, food safe and high-strength paper made from sustainable sources tracked by the forest stewardship council. We are a BRCGS grade A facility for manufacturing of food safe products along with having many other certifications. However, we consider our always-on-time & just-in-time service to be our USP. As a provider of take-away packaging, we know our value is in consistently timely delivery across the world.

    StartupTalky: How has the paper bag industry changed in recent years and how has your company adapted to these changes?

    Sushant: The paper packaging industry has become extremely price-sensitive over the last 3 years due to frequent fluctuations of raw material prices. Due to our relationships with suppliers, we have always remained informed of the short-term price trend and have been able to hedge our customers to give them price stability. Keeping track of macros was irrelevant to our industry for the longest time but now we have started to see paper behave more as a commodity than ever before.

    Sushant: We have strong relationships with industry leaders in India and across countries like USA, Indonesia, China & Czech Republic summation of whom are able to give us a clear picture of the macros. We track industry publications for innovations and global indices for current price trends and also track all available imex data for competitor analysis apart from having eyes on the ground through our sales and procurement leaders.

    StartupTalky: What key metrics do you track to check company’s growth and performance?

    Sushant: We track our production efficiencies uniquely, we optimize for keeping 15-20% of our capacity free for any sudden spike in demands, delays in RM or new product development. Mostly this remains unutilized for 80% of any given year but we cannot promise the customer no delays unless we keep this capacity as spare.

    StartupTalky: What were the most significant challenges Adeera faced in the past year and how did you overcome them?

    Sushant: We faced a challenge when 90% of our production team went back to their home-town during the start of the first lockdown. As a culture we always want to be there for our team members as much as we can so we paid full salaries even to the people who were back home. Not only did we get our people back as soon as it was physically possible for them to come but we never faced a challenge in technical hiring as news of what we did percolated to the larger technical community in our industry.

    StartupTalky: What are different strategies you use for marketing? Tell us about any growth hack which you pulled off?

    Sushant: Back when we started we used colloquial terms for search engine optimization despite all consultants advising us against it. Some of the larger advertising channels laughed us off when we asked to be listed in the “Paper Lifafa” category.

    Adeera Packaging Paper bags made for clients

    So we did not list ourselves on any platform but used 25-30 free classified post websites to market ourselves. We knew our customers think in their mother tongue and will search for paper lifafa or paper thonga and we were the only ones present on the web for these keywords. Since we did not list on any large platform we had to further innovate. We started India or probably the world’s first youtube channel for sales of paper bags that is still running strong.

    Apart from this, we introduced selling by weight instead of pieces which was a pseudo-viral move for us as a change of unit of sale is a drastic change no one in the market was able to copy us for 2 years even though the market loved it as it removed any chance of skiving on quantities or paper grammage.

    StartupTalky: What opportunities do you see for future growth in paper bag industry in India and the world? What kind of difference in market behavior have you seen within states in India?

    Sushant: The usage of Paper Packaging in FMCG goods is rising and will soon grow to become the highest segment in the paper bag industry in India and around the world.

    In states with higher literacy levels, the market sentiment is against the use of single-use plastic even if the law is not strictly implemented. This change is very positive for our country as SUPs are being looked at as an environmental hazard which they are.

    StartupTalky: What lessons did your team learn in the past year and how will these inform your future plans and strategies?

    Sushant: We have been researching the US market for the last one year and observing a trend of growing use of recycled paper. We believe our future is in becoming a truly global organization by diversifying into different geographies across the world starting with the USA as a sales & a manufacturing hub.

    StartupTalky: How do you plan to expand the Customers, Product and Team base in the future?

    Sushant: We have started hiring from the top-B schools in India and want to build the best team in the world for industry. To do this, we have also started to work actively to attract talent. Our culture has always been attractive to young minds to grow and be independent.

    We are diversifying our products by adding new production lines every year, next year we plan to grow our capacity by 50%, most of it will come from new products. We have the capacity to make 1 billion bags per year as of now and will be taking it to 1.5 billion.

    One of our core tenets is long-term relationship building backed by quality and great service. We are perennially hiring in our salesforce for expansion and are growing capacities to feed this growth.

    StartupTalky: One tip that you would like to share with people reading this article who want to get into entrepreneurship?

    Sushant: I would recommend studying great entrepreneurs, how they built their businesses, and especially how they behave when given tough problems. Books (printed & audio), blogs, podcasts & Youtube channels are great sources for study material. I dedicate at least 2 hours every day, sometimes more, for the last many years towards this.

    We thank Mr. Sushant for spending his valuable time and sharing his learnings with all of us.

    You can read other Recap’22 Interviews here.

  • Opportunities & Market Size of the Sustainable Packaging Industry

    The world is currently getting more and more focused on eco-sustainable packaging. Understanding completely about sustainable packaging considering the reality that eco-sustainable packaging is now the thing to stay in the packaging industry, is very important. This is what a common opinion within the packaging industry is as far as sustainable packaging is concerned.

    Inputs By: Mr. Gaurav Jalan, Founder of Packman Packaging. Packman, a Delhi-based company helps its clients Amazon, Flipkart, Bosch & others to reduce plastic packaging. In 2002, Gaurav Jalan founded Packman Packaging, which manufactures eco-friendly paper-based corrugated boxes to pack electronics, shoes, food items, clothes, etc. The company has an annual revenue of 20 Cr.

    The Sustainable Packaging Industry is on the Verge of Growth and Expansion – Opportunities and Market Size?

    The term sustainable packaging or more conveniently the eco-friendly packaging has gained a lot of momentum because both the government authorities globally and end-users are more aware of maintaining the green harmony of our planet. And sustainable packaging is one of the alternatives. Because of this awareness, the businesses worldwide are also a lot more aware and are focussing more on making the products sustainable and packaging is one of those sectors that have implemented using sustainable packaging concept for quite some time now.

    All these factors are good enough to predict somehow that sustainable packaging is here to stay for long. And the sustainable packaging industry will not just grow but gradually have an increased market size to maybe during the next 6 to 7 years to be precise.

    In fact, it is estimated that the global sustainable packaging market will get to see a growth rate of 6.7% to 469.49 billion in 2027 from 280.60 billion which was in 2019.

    This will happen as already stated above that more growing awareness related to the environmental concerns among the buyers, and tough government regulations related to the toxic packaging materials have driven further the sustainable packaging industry more than ever before.

    This is why in an attempt to lower contamination of the environment, manufacturers are bound to adopt eco-friendly packaging solutions, which will also turn the sales to boost eco-friendly materials. Also, various government bodies are initiating several programs on the importance of innovative packaging solutions and their positive impact on our planet.

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    The non-degradable packaging solutions are also one of the top factors for environmental disharmony like the degradation in the fertility of the soil, increased amount of waste materials, and water contamination. Thus, adopting environment-friendly biodegradable wrapping materials like paper or paper boards helps to maintain the sustainability of our environment as they can be repeatedly recycled, renewed, and reused instead of one-time use and dump. As the world is also suffering from another major issue of the growing amount of dumped waste, in view of this sustainable packaging methods can really be a boon is no doubt eco-friendlier as well.

    Another scenario that indicates market-wise the industry will grow can be seen from the fact that market the segment was divided mainly into plastic, paper, paper board, glass, metal, and others. But it has been the paper and paper board that has witnessed the large-scale share in the market, which is further expected to be USD189.19 by the year 2025.

    Also, you will look at the end user section of the market which is majorly divided into healthcare, food and beverage, and others. Now the trend is that the food and beverage industry is also opting for more sustainable packaging options because it also means fewer possibilities of food contamination as well.

    Thus, all these signs indicate the sustainable packaging market will continue to grow and flourish only not just in the coming years and but also in the coming decades as well.

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    The Things that the Packaging based Industry has to Say with Regards to the Eco-Sustainable Packaging Industry?

    The industry and its leaders and players think that eco-sustainable packaging is there to stay in the near future now. The reasons being they are completely environmentally friendly, made out of renewable resources, and 100% recyclable, like paper or cardboard. A good example is a corrugated paper, which gets used, changed into the paper mill, and then becomes a brand new packaging product. Also, several industry-based research also confirms the importance of eco-sustainable packaging in the industry and suggests that 4 among 5 buyers are likely to opt for products made out of cardboard.

    All these factors again suggest sustainable packaging is the thing of both present and future. Besides contributing towards the wellness of our planet. It is also going out to the add revenues of several packaging manufacturers, and those who are directly linked with the packaging market like the package retailers and whole sellers gradually. Because everyone now wants to contribute their bit towards making nature cleaner and greener.

    This is why packaging manufacturers over a period of time are more likely to adopt the sustainable mode of making packaging products. Both are big or small players inside the industry.

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