Evolving global sustainability regulations and FTAs to boost Indian pulp and paper industry’s global presence: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Evolving global sustainability regulations and FTAs to boost Indian pulp and paper industry’s global presence: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Indian Pulp & Paper Sector Poised to Lead Sustainable Manufacturing: 11th CII Pulp and Paper Summit

The Pulp and Paper Times

The Indian pulp and paper industry has built resilience through sustainable fibre sourcing, technology adoption and continuous innovation has positioned paper as the sustainable packaging material of the future, stressed Mr Pawan Agarwal, Summit Chairman, President – Indian Papers Manufacturers Association (IPMA) & CMD, Naini Papers Limited. He was speaking at the opening session of 11th CII Pulp and Paper Summit With the theme - “The Water Future: Pulp & Paper Industry; Building Resilience & Global Competitiveness” organised by CII Water Institute in New Delhi today.

Mr Agarwal emphasised that the Indian pulp and paper industry has built remarkable resilience through sustainable fibre sourcing, particularly farmer-led agroforestry plantations that support livelihoods while enhancing green cover. On further strengthening India’s global competitiveness in a rapidly evolving marketplace.Calling for greater policy support, Mr Agarwal advocated for a dedicated technology upgradation fund to accelerate investments in advanced, water-efficient and low-carbon technologies, enabling the Indian pulp and paper industry to strengthen its global competitiveness while responsibly managing natural resources.

H.E. Mr Mikko Kivikoski, Ambassador (Designate) of Finland to India and Chief Guest of the Session, highlighted Finland’s globally acclaimed Finnish Waterway approach—an integrated water stewardship model that brings together technology, governance, industry, and communities to ensure sustainable water management.
 
Sharing Finland’s experience, he noted that the adoption of advanced wastewater treatment, water recycling, digitalisation, real-time monitoring, and AI-driven smart water solutions has transformed the country’s forest industry into resource-efficient biorefineries. He underscored how these interventions have significantly reduced water pollution while enhancing operational efficiency and productivity.

Mr Kivikoski also highlighted the immense potential for deeper India–Finland collaboration in water resilience, innovation and smart water management enabling the pulp and paper industry to achieve sustainable growth and greater global competitiveness.

Mr Amit Verma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India shared that highlighted that the global shift towards sustainable and plastic-free packaging is creating unprecedented opportunities for the pulp and paper industry.

He noted that evolving global sustainability regulations and expanding market access through FTAs present significant opportunities for the Indian pulp and paper industry.
Underscoring sustainability, global certifications, and compliance with evolving environmental norms as key drivers of competitiveness, he urged companies to strengthen sustainability practices, certifications, innovation, and export readiness by leveraging Government support schemes to enhance global competitiveness and build resilient resource ecosystems.

Mr SVR Krishnan, Summit Co-Chairman, President-IPPTA and CEO, Sripathi Paper & Boards Pvt. Ltd. emphasised that water resilience will be a defining factor for the future competitiveness of the pulp and paper industry.

While acknowledging the sector’s significant progress in reducing water consumption and increasing water recycling over the past two decades, he stressed that much more needs to be done through advanced water management practices, modular wastewater treatment systems, and greater technology adoption. He further underscored that effective water chemistry management, resource recovery, and phased modernisation of legacy assets are critical to achieving long-term environmental and operational excellence.

Ms Shilpa Nischal, Executive Director, CII Water Institute, urged industries to adopt a holistic water management approach based on the principles of Measure, Map, Monitor and the 7Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recover, Recharge, Replenish, Rejuvenate, and Respect—to secure a sustainable water future and build long-term global competitiveness.
 

Published at : Jul 21, 2026 12:17 PM (IST)

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