For a small state that hosts over 1.5 crore tourists every year, DRS is more than policy; it’s survival. Nearly 800 tonnes of waste is generated daily, with almost half of it non-biodegradable. Goa’s fragile coastline, rivers, and forest ecosystems were feeling the impact of rising waste. By introducing DRS, Goa has taken a step to make tourists and residents more responsible.
DRS means a process or scheme where a refundable deposit secured on a product shall be refunded on return of the product at the collection point to a redeemer. It aligns consumer behavior, producer responsibility, and government oversight to drive packaging recovery, reduce litter, and improve recycling outcomes.
The Goa DRS scheme applies to all products as defined under the rules— any product packed in non-biodegradable material specified in the schedule to the rules and placed for sale in the state of Goa. The notified categories include glass, metal, rigid plastics, flexible plastics, laminated liquid cartons (LPB), multilayered plastics (MLPs), and other formats as may be notified.
DRS is redefining how packaging operates at scale. It demands precision variable data printing, clean code integrity, and robust traceability, all delivered without compromising speed or throughput.
Holosafe Security Labels, a provider of labels and security solutions, has successfully executed a full-scale DRS (Deposit Refund System) printing and traceability trial at its manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, validating its readiness for real-world deployment on the Jetsci KolorSmart+ digital label press from Monotech Systems.
The trial demonstrated that the Jetsci KolorSmart+ can print high-speed, high-accuracy variable data, consistent code quality with durability, and end-to-end traceability capabilities for scale operations. This positions Holosafe as a reliable DRS implementation partner for FMCG, beverages, liquor, and other high-volume packaged goods.
The Jetsci KolorSmart+ digital label press has comprehensive features to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Combining speed, precision, versatility, and customization, this press has gained recognition for its ability to deliver high-quality labels efficiently.
The press is equipped with an additional pre-inkjet flexo station with standard UV curing to apply primers, a base white, or spot colors. The pre-inkjet flexo station can be used for priming, coating, or single-color printing, along with up to 6-colors (W+CMYK+ special color).
The UV inkjet unit features 4-step grayscale droplet size capable printheads and specially formulated inks to deliver outstanding image quality and sharp, detailed text. The press utilizes cutting-edge Kyocera inkjet printhead technology to ensure print quality.
“While the Goa DRS has not yet been fully implemented and timelines continue to evolve, it clearly signals the direction the industry is heading. We are already seeing a shift toward serialized, data-driven packaging. The key challenge now lies in aligning infrastructure, technology, and stakeholder readiness to ensure a smooth rollout,” says Preeti Mishra, director – business development, Holosafe Security Labels.
