E-learning will support the paper industry, and love for books will never end : Ankur Bindals

E-learning will support the paper industry, and love for books will never end : Ankur Bindals

- Students will print the study material and resort to paper-based notes for studies

- Going for backward integration to secure 100% raw material availability

E-learning will support the paper industry. The demand paper remains as students will print the study material and resort to paper-based notes for studies. The people’s love for books will never end.

With normalcy returning in all sectors, the paper industry is also getting its groove back. The schools are back to normal, and written exams are held in both schools and colleges. With this, the new education policy is also being implemented, which would further boost the demand for writing printing paper. Mr. Ankur Bindals, Managing Director, Bindals Papers Mills Limited, shares his insights about the waste paper crisis and discusses WPO’s claim about the paper industry and the price hike. He also shares light on the new education policy and its overall impact on the paper industry and its supply and demand.

May 2022 | The Pulp and Paper Times: 

Q: What is the future of the paper market post covid?

Overall, covid has impacted the paper industry a lot. The market has fluctuated a lot in the last two years. We are in the writing printing and copier paper segment, and due to the shutting down of education and government institutions in lockdown, it suffered the most. Now everything is going back to normal the market is heading towards stabilization. In fact, in the last three months, the demand and prices both have witnessed an upward trend, the reason being the rise in the cost of waste paper, fuel, and raw materials. We use agro-residue, and even its prices have increased. So, there is no question of the market going down in the future.

Q: How much time paper market will take to reach normalcy?

In my opinion, the market has reached its normalcy post-covid, and the market is stable. I think the demand for paper will reach its pre-covid level by next month. During and after covid, the paper mills have a new segment – Cup Stock. It has played a good role in the market.

Q: How will the new education policy benefit the paper industry?

It will benefit the industry a lot. Due to the new policy, new books will be printed and published, boosting the demand.

Q: As the government is inclined towards e-learning, will it impact the paper demand?

E-learning will also, all in all, support the paper industry. If the demand for publishing paper goes down, then the demand for copier paper will go up, as students will print the study material and resort to paper-based notes for studies.

Q: It is heard that the European Authority will regulate waste shipments. If this happens, then getting imported OCC will be a challenge. In this situation, what alternatives do the Indian Paper mills have?

Today, the percentage of waste paper collection in India, compared to developed nations, is low. With increasing waste paper prices, the collection rate in India is gradually increasing. As a result, there will be stability and availability of waste paper in the future.

Q: As per World Paper Organisation, paper mills, compared to plastic industries, are energy, resource, and technology-intensive. However, there is seven times less impact on the environment in plastic when compared to paper. What is your take on this?

I would disagree with that. I don’t know the parameters and basis of comparison. Although paper mills can be energy and resource-intensive, the paper industry is at such a stage that many kraft papers and duplex paper mills are running on zero liquid discharge. Paper mills comply with CPCB and government charters and contribute to the environment, as the raw materials are renewable. Many tree-based paper mills in India are encouraging farmers to plant more trees.

Q: Paper industry is facing a coal shortage. What is the reason behind it? And how will it impact paper making?

It is a worldwide challenge, and this crisis will remain for another few months. It would take another six months to a year to get solved. This shortage has increased the cost of production, and it will remain the same due to cost pressure.

Q: Don’t you think a continuous rise in paper prices will propel the sale of alternate e-book reading devices? How do you see this?

Both paper books and e-books go similarly. E-learning has its way of working, and paper has its own. The students who want to write will make notes in their notebooks or take printouts on copier papers. The people’s love for books will never end.

Q: Have you launched any new products recently?

Recently, in the last three months, we launched cup stock, which is growing well. We are also exporting the same. And there is a stable growth in our copier paper segment.

Q: Any expansion you are planning?

We are going for backward integration, and to secure 100% raw material, we have planned to set up a sugar mill and distillery in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh.
 

Web Title: E-learning will support the paper industry, love for books will never end- Ankur Bindals