Leading aseptic packaging company Asepto – part of India’s packaging giant UFlex Ltd – has gone green with its new U-shape paper straw line at Sanand, Gujarat. The new line is the firm’s response to tightening restrictions across the world on using plastic straws.

  

UFlex Limited, – India's largest flexible packaging material solution and polymer science company – has announced its initiative to bring sustainable change to its fold by setting up India's first U-shaped paper straw manufacturing line for its aseptic liquid packaging business. The manufacturing line is being set up at its existing aseptic liquid packaging plant in Sanand, Gujarat.

 

By becoming India’s first – and the world’s fastest speed line – U–shaped paper straw manufacturing company, “UFlex through its aseptic liquid packaging brand Asepto continues its efforts to create a sustainable and clean environment,” the firm said in a statement. According to the company, the new paper straw manufacturing line will boast fully automated Dutch technology, offering a production capacity of approximately 2.4 billion straws annually.

The sizes available in U-Shape paper straws will be 145mm and 165mm, and they will be attached to and utilised for portion packs for juices and other beverages. UFlex paper straws will be food grade, moisture-resistant and made from sustainably sourced papers, which are 100-per-cent recyclable. 

Target production of 2.4 billion paper straws annually

On the launch of the new line, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, President and CEO, Aseptic Liquid Packaging Business, UFlex Ltd, said that in the wake of prohibitions on use of single use plastic coming into force across the world, including Indian government upholding its decision to not exempt some plastic straws from the impending ban, this move by UFlex is “not just significant but also timely”. 

“With the launch of U-shaped paper straws, we are ready to change the dynamics of the industry. We are constantly looking for strategic ways to improve the environmental performance of our products and create avenues for superior, convenient, and sustainable packaging. The line’s installation for ready-to-drink aseptic liquid packaging at our Sanand facility is a great example of our company's commitment toward creating better and safer products for our future generations,” he continued.

"After the successful installation and commissioning, we aim to attain 100 million straw production in the first month and raise it to 200 million in the next couple of months. We aim to produce 2.4 billion straws annually. The aesthetics and quality of the product are at par with global standards,” Mr Sharma added.

 

India's first high-volume U-Shape paper straw line 

UFlex-Asepto is importing the machinery and equipment from Tembo Paper B.V – a leading European company in its field, and internationally renowned for its next generation Dutch technology. 

On the announcement, Pierre Mousson, Managing Director of Tembo Paper B.V., commented that his firm was “delighted” to be partnering with UFlex Asepto to put up India's first high-volume U-Shape paper straw line. “With global restrictions on single-use plastics changing, a long-term solution is urgently required,” he observed. “By combining our significant knowledge and strengths, we are enthusiastic to work together to promote and execute sustainable solutions. In the long run, this cooperation would carve out a significant position in the Indian market for mutual business success.”

Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman and Managing Director of UFlex Ltd, highlighted ‘sustainability’ as one of the foundation pillars at UFlex, and observed how his business was witnessing that its aseptic liquid packaging industry is progressively moving towards more environment friendly initiatives. “Therefore, our emphasis is strongly on ensuring long-term viability of the entire value chain. The paper straws have created a huge impact in the global markets, and we are expecting the Indian market to mirror similar sentiments,” he told Food & Beverage Networker. “As a responsible packaging solutions corporation, we are committed to support our beverage customers globally, and fulfil consumer and regulatory needs by increasing the environmental performance of their packaging while reducing their carbon footprint. This is another step toward achieving our mega goal to go green.”

In FY2021, UFlex had earlier announced a planned doubling of its aseptic liquid packaging capacity to seven billion packs per annum in Sanand – and the project, which is now nearing completion, is currently undergoing trial runs. “The latest paper-straw line initiative by UFlex will catapult aseptic liquid packaging industry into a different league altogether and will go on to add yet another sustainable edge to UFlex’s business approach,” the firm said in a statement.

www.uflexltd.com