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"What’s happening in Europe today will shape pkg in Asia tomorrow," meet told
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Wednesday, 16 April, 2025, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Abhitash Singh, Mumbai
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In a world bursting with packaging possibilities, “Can–The Future”, a power-packed seminar organised by the Metal Container Manufacturers Association (MCMA) on April 4 at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai during Snack & BakeTec 2025, brought together the biggest minds, brands, and believers of sustainable, safe, and smart packaging. They cracked open a can full of futuristic insights from the humble can to game-changing innovations, the event painted a bold picture of where the food packaging industry is headed.
Sanjay Bhatia, president of MCMA, armed with market data, revealed that the canned food industry in India is witnessing a strong growth trajectory, with demand surging post-pandemic as consumers gravitate toward safer, longer shelf-life food solutions. “India’s canned food market is expected to touch ?4,000 crore by 2027, and this is just the beginning,” he emphasised, leaving the audience with a thought “Why not Can Everything?”
Ujjal Chakraborti, executive-in-charge, Tinplate Division, Tata Steel, passionately advocated for making tinplate packaging the go-to medium. “Tinplate is not just strong and safe it’s infinitely recyclable. It’s time to make it the first choice, not the fallback,” he stated, garnering nods of agreement from industry veterans and budding entrepreneurs alike.
From Europe to India, packaging regulations are reshaping business models. Alain D’Haese, secretary general of the European Aerosol Federation (FEA), took the stage to decode the latest Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) sweeping across Europe. “What’s happening in Europe today will shape packaging policy in Asia tomorrow,” he warned, urging Indian stakeholders to align early with global sustainability trends.
Saumya Nair, technical lab manager at Envirocare Labs, walked the audience through food-metal interaction and container testing protocols. “Analysis isn’t just about compliance; it’s about consumer trust,” she remarked, stressing the growing demand for traceability and transparency in food-grade packaging.
Adding a layer of accessibility to innovation was S. Sreenatha, vice president, Easy Openends India Pvt Ltd, who demystified the evolution and potential of easy open ends in India. “Ease, convenience, and safety are what today’s consumer demands and easy open ends deliver just that,” he said, showcasing some innovative can-lid formats that received applause.
The event’s crescendo was a high-octane panel discussion on “The Can: Convenience, Safety & Sustainability” moderated by none other than Ritesh Mathur, founder of F2F Food and Beverage Consultants. The panel featured a star-studded lineup including Amit Agrawal (Tinplate, Tata Steel), Kartik Nayak (Shetron Ltd), Kaushal Vora (Massilly India Packaging Pvt Ltd), and Shubha Nishthala.
Together, they tackled tough questions like why is the can still underrated in India, how can brands better educate consumers about the benefits of canned food, Is India ready to adopt global packaging sustainability norms.
“The can is not just a container it’s a commitment to hygiene, shelf-life, and the environment,” summed up Ritesh Mathur.
Can–The Future wasn’t just a seminar it was a clarion call for a smarter, safer, and more sustainable food packaging revolution. And if there was one takeaway for all attendees: The future isn’t bottled, boxed, or bagged it’s canned.
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