From 6 to 9 September 2024, Ayodhya played host to the International Conference on Sustainable Printing and Packaging. Organized by the Offset Printers Association (OPA) with the support of the government of India’s ministry of MSME, the conference brought together over 180 delegates from 38 cities across India and leaders from four nations to spark a conversation on the future of the printing and packaging industries focused on sustainability.
The conference was inaugurated on 7 September by Pratibha Goyal, vice chancellor of Dr Rammanohar Lohia Avadh University, who set the tone for the event. “Sustainability is not a choice; it is a moral obligation,” she emphasized. “The future of our industries, our environment, and our planet rests on the decisions we make today.”
In his welcome address, Parveen Aggarwal, president of OPA, said, “This conference is not just about technological innovation,” he said. “It is about creating a better, greener future for the generations to come. We have a responsibility to lead the way.”
One of the conference’s highlights was the presentation of the presidential print awards, jointly awarded by Goyal and Sanjay Srivastava, vice chancellor of MG Central University, Motihari, Bihar. Eight regional printer associations were honored for their contribution to the industry. The leaders driving the change towards sustainability, and the associations honored included Ayodhya (Faizabad) Printers Association, Delhi Printers’ Association, Master Printers’ Welfare Association, Gorakhpur, Lucknow Printers’ Association, Allahabad Printers Welfare Association, Salem District Offset Printers Association, Kashmir Printers Association and Banaras Offset Printers’ Association.
The other speakers included CN Ashok, managing director of Auto Print India, who said, “There is no Plan B for our planet, and there is no time like the present to preserve it for those who come after us.” His words were echoed by Amit Khurana, CEO of TechNova India, who demonstrated how sustainability is a driver of long-term value and growth.
Global leaders such as Ahmad Mughira Nurhani, president of PPGI Indonesia, and Anil Kariyawasam, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers said the challenge of sustainability knows no borders and demands international collaboration.
The final day of the conference began with a thought-provoking presentation by Peter Deckker from Sri Lanka on the environmental impacts of the printing and packaging industries, followed by Vaishali Pandey of Manroland Sheetfed India, who said sustainability is not a destination but a journey.
Goyal presented certificates of appreciation to the organizers and contributors, her closing words charged with emotion: “This conference has been more than just a gathering of industry professionals. It has been a promise—a promise to our planet, to future generations, and to each other that we will work together to build a sustainable, prosperous future.” Her words captured the collective spirit of the event.
