MUMBAI, INDIA — With organized retailing growing in India, plastics processors are looking at innovative packaging ideas to keep pace with the trends.
One example: sheet extruder AVI Global Plast Pvt. Ltd. has started trial production of punnets, used to package fruits and vegetables.
“Punnets are small plastic containers being increasingly used for the packaging of soft fruits and vegetables like grapes, berries, cherries, mushrooms, etc., in retail outlets, and we have build the capacity to tap this growing market in India,” said Ankit Bhargava, vice president of business development.
In an interview at the Plastivision trade show in Mumbai, Bhargava said the Mumbai-based company will start commercial production of punnets in January.
Until now, most punnets used in India have been imported, he said.
The company's plant in Daman, India, makes 1,100 metric tonnes of PVC film and 400 metric tones of PET sheet per month. The plant started making PET sheet in 2013.
Bhargava said the company plans to expand its PET sheet production to 1,000 tonnes a month by the end of 2014.