“The next decade will not belong to those who merely make paper — it will belong to those who make paper matter” - N. Gopalaratnam, Chairman, Seshasayee Paper

“The next decade will not belong to those who merely make paper — it will belong to those who make paper matter” - N. Gopalaratnam, Chairman, Seshasayee Paper

As The Pulp and Paper Times marks its 10th anniversary, we celebrate a decade of meaningful and industry-focused journalism.

Over the past decade, we have established ourselves as a trusted voice of the pulp and paper sector, connecting paper mills, industry leaders, technology providers, and global stakeholders. With a strong readership base across India and overseas, our platform has consistently delivered credible insights, market intelligence, and exclusive industry interactions that support informed decision-making.

On this special milestone, we talked to N. Gopalaratnam, Chairman, Seshasayee Paper and Boards Ltd., about his perspective on the future of the paper business. We shared our theme, “Market Factors, Technology, and Consumer Interests Shaping the Indian Pulp and Paper Industry in the Next 10 Years.” We received very informative and deeply insightful views that everyone associated with the paper industry, in any capacity, should read. Here are his insights

Charting the Next Decade: Market Forces, Technology, and the Evolving Consumer in the Indian Pulp and Paper Industry

The Pulp and Paper Times

Ten years ago, the Indian pulp and paper industry stood at crossroads. Rapid digitisation was reshaping how the world communicated, and many predicted a sharp, irreversible decline in demand for printing and writing paper. Today, as we mark this milestone, the industry tells a far more nuanced and, in many ways, more exciting story. Demand has not diminished — it has transformed. And the next decade promises an even more profound reshaping of what paper means, what it must do, and how it must be made.

A Market Redrawn by Commerce and Sustainability

The single most consequential market shift over the next ten years will be the explosive growth of e-commerce and organised retail, both of which are driving demand for packaging-grade papers and boards at a pace that was unimaginable a decade ago. India’s packaging paper segment is projected to grow at a CAGR well above the overall industry average, and kraft boards, corrugated liners, and high-performance duplex boards will be at the centre of that growth. As a manufacturer across these grades, we see this not merely as a volume opportunity, but as a call to raise the quality and consistency benchmarks of Indian-made packaging to truly global standards.

Simultaneously, the writing and printing segment is undergoing a quiet reinvention. While office stationery faces structural pressure from screens, the education sector, government documentation, and premium publishing continue to anchor healthy demand. The opportunity here lies in moving up the value chain — toward brighter, lighter-basis-weight, and more consistently performing grades that command better realisations and serve a discerning institutional buyer. 

“The next decade will not belong to those who merely make paper — it will belong to those who make paper matter.”

Technology as the New Competitive Frontier

Technology will be the great separator in the Indian paper industry over the coming decade. Energy efficiency, fibre optimisation, and water stewardship are no longer peripheral concerns — they are becoming core to a mill’s licence to operate and its cost competitiveness. At SPB, our investments in process automation, waste heat recovery, and effluent recycling reflect our belief that sustainable manufacturing and commercial viability are not in tension; they are, in fact, the same objective viewed from different vantage points.

The rise of speciality papers is another area where technology will play a decisive role. Food-grade, grease-resistant, and barrier-coated papers are witnessing surging demand as India’s food services and quick-commerce sectors scale rapidly. These grades require precision chemistry, tight quality control, and a deep understanding of end-use requirements — capabilities that separate a truly integrated paper company from a commodity producer. We see this as one of our most significant growth vectors over the next ten years. Tissue paper segment will also see unprecedented growth.

The Conscious Consumer Changes Everything

Perhaps the most underappreciated force reshaping our industry is the emergence of the environmentally conscious consumer — both at the individual level and at the institutional procurement level. Major FMCG companies, exporters, and retailers are setting aggressive targets to eliminate single-use plastics and transition to fibre-based, recyclable, and compostable packaging solutions. Paper — when made responsibly — is uniquely positioned to meet this imperative. This is a generational opportunity for Indian paper manufacturers, provided we align our product development and certification standards with what global and domestic supply chains demand.

As our company SPB enters its next decade, we carry forward a conviction that has guided us from the outset: that long-term value in this industry is built not on scale alone, but on the quality of what we make, the responsibility with which we make it, and the depth of our understanding of where the market is going. The Indian Pulp and Paper Industry’s best is yet to come and we intend to contribute responsibly.
 

Published at : Sep 21, 2026 06:38 AM (IST)

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