| |JUNE 20229THE WAY TO SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING FOR INDIARight now, the cost of using sustainable packaging is understandably higher than conventional packaging. Hence, opting for sustainable packaging can be difficult for small business owners. What is your point of view in regards to this issue? How can this be resolved?The growing awareness about non-plastic based packaging and the development of robust alternatives has led to an increasing demand for paper-based packaging from all stakeholders. In the coming days, the entry of new-age startups will help in achieving economies of scale, which will reduce the overall cost. However, the cost of sustainable packaging should be viewed from a holistic lens considering value throughout the life cycle instead of the retail cost of the material. Key aspects like responsible sourcing, infrastructure cost, recyclability, reusability and the shift towards closed-loop systems should be taken into consideration while evaluating the lifetime cost of packaging which reduces costs in the longer term. This coupled with the evolving policy landscape and the growing economies of scale is helping bridge the gap between the cost of conventional packaging and sustainable packaging and increase adoption. At Flipkart, we actively engage with our suppliers and sellers for understanding their challenges, co-creating solutions, work on capacity building for education and awareness to come up with scalable and cost-effective solutions best suited to the current scenario. Thorough research on packaging material designs and optimizing systems to reduce wastage can go a long way in reducing costs.When it comes to packaging, sustainable materials must function as well as alternative packaging. Because the safety of the packaged product is paramount, the packag-ing's durability becomes critical. How can the durability of the packaging be ensured along with sustainability?With a significant increase in the movement of goods from one part of the country to another, having sustainable and durable alternative packaging becomes imperative for its widespread adoption. At Flipkart, the sustainable packaging program has been developed taking into account the end-to-end process At Flipkart, we actively engage with our suppliers and sellers for understanding their challenges, co-creating solutions, work on capacity building for education and awareness to come up with scalable and cost-effective solutions best suited to the current scenario
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