In July 2026, the packaging industry's priorities are shifting rapidly. Sustainability is not just a responsibility of the industry, but is also now a commercial requirement. The regulatory compliance for the packaging industry today is detailed and stringent. Customers expect shorter development cycles without any compromise on performance. At the same time, the supply chain uncertainties and raw material volatility are also compelling converters and packaging manufacturers to rethink how they build resilience.
For Kunal Bajaj, promoter, Jupiter Group, these shifts explain why the company has focused on building an integrated manufacturing ecosystem rather than expanding individual business verticals in isolation. Mr Bajaj also mentioned that the group’s strategy combines backward integration across films, aluminum, inks, chemicals, and gravure cylinders with investments in new packaging technologies and sustainability initiatives.
“We have built capabilities across chemicals and inks, rotogravure, films, and aluminum rolling mills as an integrated ecosystem, not as isolated businesses,” Bajaj said. As per him, having control of key raw materials and processes allows the company to offer customers greater consistency, along with reducing dependency on multiple external suppliers, which acts as an increasingly important consideration as global markets remain volatile.
Bajaj further explained that the integrated model extends beyond manufacturing efficiency. With films, inks, cylinders, and laminate structures developed within the same ecosystem, product development can move faster while reducing compatibility issues that often arise when several vendors are involved. He also believes that such an approach helps to create opportunities for developing specialized solutions, such as anti-counterfeit packaging, by combining expertise in substrate engineering, ink chemistry, and aluminum processing.
The changing demand of brand owners today also affects the kind of innovation in the packaging industry. Mr Bajaj observed that today, sustainability has become a specification rather than a marketing claim, with growing consumer awareness for recyclability, EPR-compliant packaging structures, along with high-performance formats for food, healthcare, and e-commerce applications.
“The customer brief has fundamentally changed,” he said, pointing to the growing demand for mono-material structures, retort and aseptic packaging, stand-up pouches, resealable formats, and transit-resistant packaging. Consumers demanding pharmaceutical products today majorly put emphasis on cold-form foils, contamination-proof packaging, and child-resistant solutions. According to him, the converters capable of engineering the increasingly complex requirements will be positioned as the market grows in the foreseen period.
To support this transition, Jupiter Group is investing in recyclable PP and PE structures, downgauging initiatives, and post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials across PET, PP, and PE. Mr. Bajaj also revealed the brand’s plans to develop an innovation center. The center will be equipped with features allowing customers to collaborate with the company to develop and validate new packaging formats before commercial production. He described exports to markets such as Europe, the UAE, and the US not only as a business opportunity but also as a benchmark for manufacturing quality and regulatory compliance.
From the aluminum point of view, Mr. Bajaj highlighted the role of LKSB Aluminium Foils and Jupalco in strengthening the group’s capabilities in sectors such as pharmaceutical and food packaging. He mentioned that investments in automatic gauge and shape control systems have enabled the production of ultra-thin aluminum foils with tighter process control and reduced defects, which is crucial for high-barrier applications requiring higher consistency.
He also stated that innovation is equally important in the printing and converting industry. Through Inkofix, the company has introduced non-toluene and non-ketone ink systems aligned with evolving regulatory requirements, alongside water-based gravure inks aimed at reducing solvent use. The company’s portfolio also consists of solvent-less lamination adhesives and functional coatings, as customers seek improved barrier performance with lower environmental impact.
Mr. Bajaj also pointed to the growing importance of gravure cylinder engineering. Instead of treating cylinders as a standard production component, he said their design needs to be tailored to different substrates and modern ink systems, as converters adopt water-based and low-VOC formulations. “What is approved at proof must be exactly what runs at production scale, every single time,” he said.
While sustainability remains a priority for the Jupiter Group’s investment plans, he acknowledged that widespread adoption in India continues to face practical challenges. He also stated that recyclable packaging delivers limited environmental benefit without any efficient waste collection and segregation systems. Various other factors, such as higher material costs, growing need to match the performance of conventional multilayer structures, and the lack of harmonized standards for recyclability and recycled content, still act as a barrier to the brand’s growth.
Looking ahead, Jupiter Group plans to expand manufacturing capacity while strengthening its portfolio in anti-counterfeit packaging, high-barrier mono-material structures, and cold-chain compatible films. As India’s packaging industry continues to evolve, Bajaj believes future competitiveness will depend less on individual products and more on the ability to integrate materials, processes, and innovation into a cohesive manufacturing ecosystem.
31 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026
30 July 2026