Page 30 - Plastics News April 2021

FeAtures

on our operations. We have however managed the situation when compared to the developed economies so there
with our team having a fighting spirit and working like the is enough room for catering to customer requirements
frontline warriors in the national interest. We all need which are increasing as end consumers turn to more of
to understand that without plastic packaging essential packaged goods.
products like sanitizers, disinfectants, food etc. cannot The opportunities are huge, and we need to build size
reach the end consumer and keeping this in mind we have and scale to bring about a revolutionary way of delivering
relentlessly ensured that supply lines are kept intact. products while at the same time ensuring sustainability
Q. How was the business performance during is worked upon as a core component of production. We
the year for SSF, can we talk in terms of have set up a PCR plant as recycling of plastics becomes
an important social commitment and is a good thing to
the expected growth? do. We need to protect the environment for our future
Our growth ambition will always be our top agenda. Given generations while at the same time ensuring clean
that two months of the year 20-21 were almost wiped out, packaged products to our present generation, so it is
our performance has been in line with our expectations a challenging task and we have to work on both fronts
post-adjusting for the loss of 2 months.We could have done to ensure least damage to the environment with best
much better had the pandemic not struck the world as solutions for today’s needs.
anyone else would have as well. We will continue to strive Q. How does International Ban on Single
for double digit growth which is our stated motto and hope
that businesses will not be impacted by lockdowns and Use Plastics affect the industry?
labour shortages due to COVID 2019. We constantly strive Plastic is a wonder material. Just as we are educating
to expand our customer base and have been successful people to use masks, we need to educate the population
in doing that even during the pandemic. We do hope to on the correct disposal and have processes in place for
see us achieving the double-digit growth in this financial recycling. Some of these initiatives have to be at the
year subject to all the uncertainties surrounding business Government level as well. Indeed, the ban on single
in general. use plastic is a welcome step and in the right direction,
Q. What are the plans for the year are however this cannot be successfully executed without
first putting in place alternative material-based products.
you working on capacity building /
Machinery? Q. What are the options available?
If one has to grow, it’s imperative to invest ahead of During these times in particular plastics has proved to be a
boon every second it is saving lives: be it sanitizers, masks,
the curve, and we are continuously investing in capacity PPE or syringes. It makes life easier be it mobile phones
building and also in modernizing automation. We have an or vehicles or any of your day-to-day use appliances. It
in-house automation team who have been given a free can be re-used and recycled. You can build roads and
hand and are a profit center. We have our own injection consume tons of used plastics in doing so. The issue is
and blow mold tooling divisions which support all tool not with plastics per se but is with the method of disposal
making and we are investing in this area as well. and recycling.
Q. Can we talk about investment that you Q. Any advice to domestic Industry
plan? The domestic industry must work with the Government and

We have grown from a small number of machines to seek formation of a task force with industry representation
over 250 machines today, so it is a continuous process of on the issue of recycling of plastics. We must protect our
investing to expand and to meet customer requirements. environment, but this requires private public partnership.
In a country of growing population, growth in consumption Recycling investments should be part of CSR expenses for
of packaged goods is to be expected and one must plan a company to encourage them to undertake this activity
in advance and have the ability to take risks as also invest seriously and purposefully. A holistic approach to recycling
if you have to grow. is missing and for the industry to thrive, the onus should
Q. What do you think about the domestic be on us to work with the Government and put in place a
policy which is realistic and executable. Everyone should
Plastics Industry? understand that Plastics has become essential to human
The domestic plastic industry is in a growth phase. The survival and we need to join hands to deal with the
per capita consumption in India is probably the lowest environmental issues which are also real.

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