Focus on Eco & Consumer Friendly Packaging 26 Gluten-Free: What it means and Reason for its high price Technology 29 New offering for the Snack Industry Plastic usage has created a lot of buzz lately. Even this year’s theme for World Environment Day was “Beat Plastic Pollution”. Several states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have also banned the manufacturing of plastic and its usage. However, in the food and beverage industry, plastic plays a key role in packaging. From airtight containers to shelf stable bottles, it a material of choice for increased shelf-life. The current uproar about plastic packaging has kept major food firms on their toes. Companies like Nestle India has collaborated with organizations like Indian Pollution Control Association IPCA, NEPRA and Saahas Waste Management and companies like ITC and Dabur India have started using recyclable plastic. Several companies operating nationally have expressed difficulty in complying with different state policies on plastic and have expressed a need for unified pan-India plan. With this current scenario, we look at what opportunities lie ahead for the Indian Food Packaging Industry and what are the challenges faced by the industry today.