India’s market for paper-based gable-top packaging is set for strong growth as consumers become more health-conscious and government measures encourage alternatives to plastic, according to Pavan Singh, CEO of Pakcellence, a subsidiary of Mumbai-based Printmann Offset.
Speaking at ProPack 2026 in Mumbai, Singh said the company was focused on developing sustainable packaging solutions that reduce, rather than eliminate plastic use. “Gable top is our first product,” Singh said, adding Pakcellence plans other products within the same broad paper-based packaging segment.
The company’s gable-top packaging contains up to 70% paper in some applications and 85% in others, with the balance comprising polyethylene (PE). “We are not saying 100% reduction. It is reduction of plastic, not elimination,” Singh said.
Pakcellence has a technical tie-up with Italy-based Galdi, which supplies filling-machine solutions, while Pakcellence handles printing and packaging.
Singh said gable-top packaging was gaining popularity globally across several applications, with water emerging as one of the newer growth areas. While the format is well established in Europe, Indian brands are exploring it for bottled water as restrictions on plastic packaging expand in some locations.
“There are at least three to four brands” using gable-top packaging for water in India, he said. Singh cited Tirupati as an example where the use of plastic bottles has been restricted, creating opportunities for alternatives such as paper-based packaging, glass and metal.
Glass can be expensive, while paper-based gable-top packaging offers a lower-carbon alternative. “If you want sustainable packaging with the least carbon footprint, then gable top is the right choice,” Singh said. The company expects India’s market to expand as both consumer awareness and regulation drive the search for alternatives to plastic.
“People are more health aware,” Singh said, adding government measures aimed at reducing plastic use were also supporting demand. While dairy remains a major application for gable-top packaging in India, the range of products using the format is expanding.
High-protein milk is gaining popularity, particularly in southern India, while non-dairy creamers represent another significant application. Water has emerged as the third major category, according to Singh. The company is exploring gable-top packaging for alcoholic beverages.
Non-food applications are beginning to emerge as well. Singh said two brands in India had already launched products using the format, indicating that the non-food segment was gradually developing. Globally, gable-top packaging is used for premium rice products, he said.
Singh said Pakcellence’s participation at ProPack 2026 was driven by the company’s growing links with the food industry. The company has been associated with the event for two years and sees it as an opportunity to engage with existing and potential customers.
The development of new applications is becoming increasingly important as brand owners seek packaging formats that balance environmental considerations, functionality and cost.
Singh said Pakcellence’s approach was focused on reducing the amount of plastic used rather than claiming complete plastic elimination.
The company believes this positioning can help gable-top packaging compete with conventional PET and other formats, particularly in categories where brands seek to strengthen sustainability credentials.
With dairy, water, non-dairy beverages and emerging non-food applications expanding the potential market, Pakcellence expects paper-based gable-top packaging to become a more prominent part of India’s packaging landscape.
Singh said the response at ProPack 2026 had been positive, although the long-weekend timing of the event may have affected visitor numbers.
