Cheese packaging on a strong footing in India and South Asia

The challenge will be to use recycled materials and recyclable packaging

237
Cheese
Cheese now presents the largest variety in types, flavors and textures for use as an ingredient in home cooking or as sandwich filler or spread. It is being delivered in wedges, blocks, slices, diced granules and spreads. The packaging formats include cartons, tins, foil-wrapped in cartons, pouches, flow-wraps, plastic tubs with lids and labels, in-mould tubs and also lamitubes. Photo PSA

According to the International Dairy Foods Association, dairy per capita consumption across products has been increasing each year, up by 6% over the past five years and 10% over the past 15 years. Among the dairy-based and dairy-like products, the global cheese packaging market growth is perhaps the fastest growing with increasing consumption of cheese products in the home, in new convenience ready-to-eat and heat-and-eat products, and demand from the fast food industry. 

The cheese packaging market is forecast by several agencies to be the fastest-growing global packaging segment from 2022 to 2029 at an estimated CAGR of 5.3%. Growth rates in South Asia and Southeast Asia are expected to be higher and possibly in the double digits – considering the overall growth of milk byproducts in the region and the introduction by global and local brands of new varieties with localization and new formats meant to work with market segmentation. The demand from the fast-food industry and for eco-friendly packaging are also factors as demand rises.

With increased disposable incomes and changes in lifestyle, the dairy and dairy product industry is now moving beyond delivering a simple homogenized or pasteurized product at the lowest price from cooperative dairies. Organized retail is building a cold chain from milk and milk product processing plants to their glass-fronted refrigerated cases that encourage self-service, in new retail formats – both in large chains and in smaller karyana shops. While shelf life is a given, shelf impact with new flavors, colors and reclosable closures is key to consumer lifestyles given to experimentation and on-the-go products. 

Cheese packaging materials include foil, wraps, containers, lids, foils, boxes, and tubes with a formidable array of caps and closures. The packaging materials are generally made up of plastic, paper, aluminium, and glass. While milk and cheese packaging are heavily dominated by plastic containers, trays, and flow wraps and pouches globally at 40%, in India and South Asia the rate of plastic use is much higher. The need for oxygen and moisture barriers is high and in cheese packaging, the transfer of odors is also a consideration as well as microbial deterioration which may be mitigated by modified atmosphere packaging and oxygen scavengers.

Cheese
Amul understands the mass market for cheese in India and is now delivering several types of diced cheeses and blends for pizza making in the home and for industry, in clear pouches. Photo PSA

The regulations of plastic in packaging requiring Extended User Responsibility that will impose fines for packaging according to its recycled content and recyclability are in place in India and are likely to take effect in the coming years. With the extensive use of PET bottles for flavored milk and milkshakes, one can expect the imminent advent of tethered caps and closures in the South Asian market also. Perhaps reclosable lids on plastic trays of sliced cheese products will come even sooner. 

The plastic waste management regulations including the EUR rules published by the Indian government in February 2022 are extensive with a plan for gradual implementation meant to reach full or maximum compliance by 2030. This is behind the European CEFLEX rules meant to bring full compliance for recyclability by 2025. However, in several segments and formats, global packaging manufacturers in the country such as Amcor, Constantia, and EPL are ready with products that meet the AI and stricter ReCylass standards. 

The impact, resilience, and growth of responsible packaging in a wide region are daily chronicled by Packaging South Asia.

A multi-channel B2B publication and digital platform such as Packaging South Asia is always aware of the prospect of new beginnings and renewal. Its 16-year-old print monthly, based in New Delhi, India has demonstrated its commitment to progress and growth. The Indian and Asian packaging industries have shown resilience in the face of ongoing challenges over the past three years.

As we present our publishing plan for 2023, India’s real GDP growth for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 will reach 6.3%. Packaging industry growth has exceeded GDP growth even when allowing for inflation in the past three years.

The capacity for flexible film manufacturing in India increased by 33% over the past three years. With orders in place, we expect another 33% capacity addition from 2023 to 2025. Capacities in monocartons, corrugation, aseptic liquid packaging, and labels have grown similarly. The numbers are positive for most of the economies in the region – our platform increasingly reaches and influences these.

Even given the disruptions of supply chains, raw material prices, and the challenge of responsible and sustainable packaging, packaging in all its creative forms and purposes has significant headroom to grow in India and Asia. Our context and coverage engulf the entire packaging supply chain – from concept to shelf and further – to waste collection and recycling. We target brand owners, product managers, raw material suppliers, packaging designers and converters, and recyclers.

In an admittedly fragmented and textured terrain, this is the right time to plan your participation and marketing support communication – in our impactful and highly targeted business platform. Tell us what you need. Speak and write to our editorial and advertising teams! For advertisement ads1@ippgroup.in , for editorial info@ippgroup.in and for subscriptions subscription@ippgroup.in

– Naresh Khanna

Subscribe Now
unnamed 1

NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter

As 2023 begins and FY 23-24 unfolds, will you support us?

What lies in store for the packaging industry in India and South Asia this coming year? Inflation, disruption of supply chains or environmental regulation? Or the resumption of high rural demand, continued investment and industry consolidation? Whatever happens, Packaging South Asia will be there, providing clarity and independent technical and business information in India and South Asia and around the world. We are a compact Indian organization bringing a window of fair and rigorous technical and business information that the industry can access this year and beyond. Please support us with your advertising and subscriptions, to keep us going and growing.

Thank you.

Previous articleGarnier opens Plastic Waste Collection Center in Chennai
Next articleFlipkart Green, an eStore for sustainable products, launched
Editor of Indian Printer and Publisher since 1979 and Packaging South Asia since 2007. Trained as an offset printer and IBM 360 computer programmer. Active in the movement to implement Indian scripts for computer-aided typesetting. Worked as a consultant and trainer to the Indian print and newspaper industry. Visiting faculty of IDC at IIT Powai in the 1990s. Also founder of IPP Services, Training and Research and has worked as its principal industry researcher since 1999. Author of book: Miracle of Indian Democracy.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here