Leaders in sustainable industrial packaging are spearheading a paradigm shift towards eco-conscious solutions. By prioritizing minimal environmental impact, these visionaries are redefining packaging practices. These leaders are not only responding to the growing demand for sustainability but also setting new industry standards.
Ravi Gupta stands as a distinguished leader in the industrial packaging realm, with a novel dedication to sustainability. As CEO of Sun Petpack Jabalpur & SB FOODS, his visionary approach blends technical expertise with ethical responsibility. His transformative shift towards eco-friendly packaging, epitomized by ‘Form to Shape Packaging’ from recycled waste paper, showcases his forward-thinking mindset, marks him as a notable figure in the sector.
In an exclusive interaction with Industry Outlook, Ravi Gupta provides further insight into his professional attributes and Sun Petpack Jabalpur.
Kindly take us through your educational journey & prior industry experience.
I’m a chemical engineer of the 1977 batch from present-day N.I.T Raipur and was born in the small town of Jabalpur. During college, I actively assisted my father's pharmaceuticals and veterinary medicine enterprises. After graduating, despite the allure of gaining work experience elsewhere, I chose to join our family business. Immersed in its workings, I began with managing and understanding every facet.
With an astute eye for the market, I delved into local trends and products. Observing the emerging detergent industry driven by SMEs like NIRMA, I recognized the reliance on imported Dodecyl Benzene for Acid Surry, a key detergent component. Spurred by an ad highlighting IPCL's Linear Alkyl Benzene as a biodegradable substitute, I established an advanced acid slurry plant in 1978 accredited as a top small-scale setup with BIS certification.
Driven by ambition, I expanded into the packaging sector in 1984, founding a medium-scale HDPE/PP woven bags unit. This venture opened avenues in plastics, including trading polymers from IPCL and Reliance Industries exposing me to prominent industrialists. My journey extended to HDPE/PP/PET blow moulding and injection moulding, where I had the likes of HPCL, IOCL and others, as customers. All this led me to establish an integrated paper pulp moulding plant in 2016, after extensive research and benchmarking with packaging trends.
This to my mind marks a new era in packaging.
How would you define Sun Petpack and SB Foods as an organization? Could you explain your transition to sustainable packaging and the impact it has had on your business?
Sun Petpack Jabalpur Private stands as an integrated packaging manufacturer, catering to a diverse clientele, from established brands to local businesses. Our unwavering commitment lies in delivering innovative packaging solutions across industries, setting us apart as industry leaders.
SB FOODS managed by young talented dynamic team make a good working environment and keep up to date with new technology, we focus on minimal environmental impact. Our solutions prioritize responsible sourcing, development, and usage, harnessing waste products and eco-friendly principles. These designs ensure safety, health, and market-standard performance while minimizing our carbon footprint.
Our trailblazing ‘Form to Shape Packaging’ is crafted entirely from 100 percnet recycled waste paper, sourced from households, offices, and factories. These paper pulp moulded packaging products are sturdy, lightweight, and customizable, catering to electronics, appliances, healthcare, automotive, and retail sectors.
The winds of change in India supported by the Government are ushering in sustainability as the new driving force in manufacturing
The winds of change in India supported by the Government are ushering in sustainability as the new driving force in manufacturing. Our commitment to ecological responsibility, combined with the capacity to protect products, reduce costs, and offer a distinctive aesthetic has prompted a shift towards moulded fiber packaging over conventional plastic and polystyrene foam packaging.
What kind of vision is required to lead a business successfully? Please tell us about your visionary approach.
A successful business demands a visionary outlook, a dream for the future that may seem unrealistic or impossible to many. As part of my business ventures, my approach to creating products or solutions has been trying to come up with something for customers, i.e., is of value, ahead of others, creating packaging solutions that enable a culture of sustainability versus being reactive to regulatory dictates. As the customers become aware and ready to spend, the market expands, and our trajectory mirrors growth. The current visionary path harmonizes ecological consciousness with strategic expansion, paving the way for a prosperous and environmentally responsible business future.
What is your guiding leadership philosophy?
At the core of my leadership ethos lies unwavering diligence, a refusal to yield, and an indomitable spirit. Mindfulness in every situation empowers me to master my mind and conquer challenges. Influenced by my mentor Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, President of SGI, my principles find roots in Nichiren Buddhism.
Why do you think this is a new era in packaging?
The reason is that today we as end consumers and businesses need to consciously make sustainable choices – a switch from thermocol, plastic fillers, bubble wrap, plastic containers towards eco-friendly options. Through support from large industrial houses and CSR support, I would be delighted to see this change be embraced voluntarily across the board .This mind-set cannot be enforced by bans and regulations alone, but businesses on the ground being willing to pay may be a slightly extra price for sustainable packaging. Today we are seeing foreign buyers, enforcing this discipline across their supplier networks.
Ravi Gupta, CEO, Sun Petpack Jabalpur
A distinguished leader in the industrial packaging realm, with a novel dedication to sustainability.
