New Delhi, Aug 19: RX India has confirmed the speaker roster for the conference anchoring the 20th edition of PackPlus 2026, the country’s exhibition for packaging, converting and supply chain. Running 20–22 August 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, the show opens with a day of conference sessions under the theme ‘Packaging as the Engine of Growth for the Indian Economy’, pulling together standards experts, brand-side packaging heads, sustainability specialists and technology innovators.
The stakes are considerable. Now the fifth-largest sector of the Indian economy, packaging quietly underpins agriculture, retail, FMCG, pharmaceuticals and the wider supply chain. The market stood at US$101.12 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach US$169.73 billion by 2030 — a compound annual growth rate of 10.73 per cent. The conference is built to turn that trajectory into durable advantage for Indian manufacturing.
Proceedings begin with an inauguration and lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by a keynote from Dr. Tanweer Alam, Additional Director & Regional Officer at the Indian Institute of Packaging , who frames the day ahead.
First on the agenda is the question of whether compliance has moved from box-ticking to competitive edge. “Packaging Standards — Compliance Goes from Obligation to Differentiator” takes up Bureau of Indian Standards norms for packaging materials, standardisation as a lever for global competitiveness, the pull of foreign direct investment, and the rising share of recycled fibre in paper- and pulp-based packs. Sagar Kurade, Chairman and Managing Director of Suman Food Consultants as moderator for Inaugural panel, joined by Prof. Kirtiraj K. Gaikwad, Head of the Department of Paper Technology at IIT Roorkee, and Udyan Kohli, Sr. Manager – SCM and Key Account Sales at Farmton Foods.
Attention then shifts to flexible packaging — an US$18 billion market in 2025 and still climbing. “Pushing the Physical Barriers of Packaging — Sustainable and Flexible Packaging is the Future” runs across AI integration, smart-packaging technology, material innovation and the balancing act of using less material without giving up on safety, protection or print quality. Dr. Madhab Chakraborty, Joint Director and Regional Head at IIP and a global packaging consultant, steers a six-member panel: Juhi Gupta, Rohit Thakral, Faizur Rahman, Nayandeep Banerjee, Akshay Seth and Priyanka Rathi.
After lunch the conversation gets pointed: can sustainable packaging genuinely stand in for plastics? “Thinking Beyond the Bin — Sustainable Packaging Replacing Plastics for Good?” weighs green credentials against greenwashing, returnable and pared-back designs, q-commerce-led reuse models, and the retreat from single-use plastics. Shailendra Singh, Founder and CEO of SustainMantra, moderates, with Nethra Ballal, Dr. Abhijeet Makhijani, Gaurav Mittal, Ankit Gupta and Seema Bansal, Co-Founder, DGCpac.com. .
The day closes with a talk show, “A Futuristic Package — AI-Embedded Packaging Design”, on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the pack — from RFID- and QR-enabled traceability and authentication to defect detection, shelf-life prediction, personalised consumer engagement and end-to-end process optimisation. Pratik Bhansali, CEO of Bimal Corporation, hosts Ayan Chattopadhyay , Ankit Gupta and Mahima Gemini.
Speaking on the announcement, Umang Gupta, Country Head, RX India, said
"Packaging today is an integral part of every product used by the Indian consumer and across industrial sectors such as manufacturing, FMCG, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. The changing policy framework, guidelines and packaging technology are rapidly shaping the economics of the sector. PackPlus has been the industry's flagship event, where policymakers, industry leaders and innovators come together to shape industry standards, sustainability and the future of India's packaging ecosystem. This year's PackPlus conference and conclave integrates these emerging industry trends with high-value sourcing needs, enabling participants to modernise and streamline their packaging infrastructure and drive growth for their businesses."
Adding to this, Shradha Malik, Event Director, PackPlus, said
"For its 20th edition, PackPlus returns with a sharper, more curated experience for the entire packaging value chain. The conference programme moves from policy and standards to the shop-floor realities of flexible, sustainable and AI-enabled packaging, while the exhibition floor is designed around real sourcing outcomes. Bringing together 250-plus exhibitors and 15,000-plus professionals under one roof, PackPlus 2026 is built to help visitors discover the latest technology, forge partnerships and leave with practical solutions they can put to work in their businesses."
The conference is the opening-day centrepiece of a wider show. Across 20–22 August 2026, PackPlus 2026 is set to draw 250+ exhibitors and 15,000+ industry professionals spanning FMCG, e-commerce, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, textiles, logistics and modern retail, alongside 500+ live machinery demonstrations and the latest in packaging, printing, converting and supply chain solutions from Indian and international suppliers.
