Exclusive interview with Cosmo Films’ Global CEO, Pankaj Poddar
Cosmo films is an Indian success story. The company is a major producer of BOPP packaging films in India with a solid international reputation. Cosmo films also enjoys a strong foothold in the Middle East. To find out more about the company and it ambition for the future we sat down with Pankaj Poddar, company’s global CEO. Here are the excerpts:
What are the roots of Cosmo Films and what are its ambitions for the future?
Cosmo Films was established in 1981 by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria with a vision to create a future for BOPP films in India and across the world. At that time, plastics was just the third most used packaging material after glass and metal. Over the years, the company has grown to be the market leader in speciality BOPP films globally, and exports to more than 100 countries worldwide, with a total production capacity of 200,000 TPA.
We had announced the commissioning of our specialized BOPET line by the next year. Speciality BOPET is a niche segment which caters to multiple application segments, with high margins and opportunities for import substitution as well as worldwide exports. The new specialty BOPET line shall be unique and a majority of the products made on the line would focus on sustainability and creation of a greener future as the key theme.
We have also entered newer segments of master batches, textile chemicals and adhesives. The adhesive and master batches will be complementary to our existing business with same set of Packaging, Labelling and Lamination customers and we shall be able to offer them unique, innovative solutions.
Coronavirus had an enormous impact on all industries, how did it affect your activities?
Packaging being part of the daily needs was not as much affected. That being said, while things were getting back to normal for all other industries with the passage of time, the second wave has caused even more disruptions in every business.
Packaging industry shall be in a better position to navigate in this crisis though it is also facing several challenges of costs going up, demand coming from only few sectors putting pressure on price, labour issues and other operational challenges.
At Cosmo Films, we have seen this as an opportunity to take our business completely digital. Customers can now use our online ordering system to directly order the required categories and quantity without getting on a call with the salesperson.
We have acquired artificial intelligence competence and are working towards complete automation. We are in the process of moving towards newest version of SAP HANA, which is an in-memory, column-oriented, relational database management system for the customers. Cosmo is rapidly progressing to take the business to a digital epitome.
Cosmo Films is an Indian company meanwhile how international are you?
We export our products to more than 100 countries across the world. We also have sales offices and warehouses all across Europe, the US, Japan and Korea.
How much you rely on exports?
I would say that currently, almost 40% of our sales come via export. We are also planning on increasing this number in the years to come.
Multilayer plastic packaging is difficult to recycle and perceived as an environmental problem, despite its valuable protective properties, how do you address the environmental issues?
We see mono material as the best solution from recycling perspective.
Cosmo Films has come out with several solutions to help ease plastic recyclability. We are a focused polypropylene player and our films are made from BOPP and CPP. The two types of films could be used individually for single layer/duplex structures or in combination to form mono-material laminates without compromising on the aesthetics and performance of the pack. BOPP and CPP films also offer benefit of better yield and in turn less consumption of plastics and overall lesser laminate cost. Cosmo Films is working very closely with several FMCG brands to understand their needs, the needs of the consumer and is then helping them to develop easy to recycle packaging laminates for their products, without compromising on the different functionalities that a particular packaging is supposed to provide.
Cosmo Films heat resistant and barrier range of films are appreciated world over and customers are rapidly replacing their old non-sustainable structures with mono material solutions provided by Cosmo Films.
Apart from these, the company has also introduced a unique Synthetic Paper, which can be used as a replacement of wood pulp based paper in applications like certificates, mark sheets, menu cards, tags and more; thus helping reduce the cutting down of trees.
Do you consider the Middle East a growth market for your products?
Yes, it is an important market.
What is the volume of your exports to Middle East countries?
In the past year, we have sales of USD 10 million in the Middle East. And this figure is improving year on year as our market in the region keeps growing and the demand of our products are on a continuous rise.
What are the new trends in plastic packaging? Recyclable films?
Plastic Packaging has come a long way from being rigid and causing pollution to being flexible, having much lower carbon footprint, lighter, cheaper and easily recyclable. The increasing awareness on sustainability and the need to create a circular economy has led to brands looking for better, more sustainable packaging solutions. BOPP films have seen an exponential rise due to its adaptability and ease of recyclability.
The BOPP Films market was valued at USD 16.22 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach USD 22.07 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 5%. The trend is predicted to gain traction due to the fact that BOPP films are more flexible and enable faster packaging with advanced sealing properties as compared to other packaging materials. Food & Beverages, Tobacco, Personal & Home Care segments take up the major share of BOPP films.
Shift to Flexible Packaging from environment perspective continues to be the key driver for BOPP films. The issue of recycling and sustainability has, in certain applications, favoured BOPP film over other polymer films. Brands are looking at film producers and converters to provide mono-material plastic packaging solutions to meet sustainability commitments. The fact that BOPP film is part of the wider polyolefin family means it can be laminated, with polyethylene (PE) film for example, and still be widely accepted in today’s recycling waste stream.
You have recently launched a flurry of new and seemingly innovative products such as BOPP-based synthetic paper, how do you come up with a new idea for an innovative product?
Research and Development is at the core of Cosmo Films Ltd. We have a highly experienced team of doctorate and post doctorate scientists in our research team who create innovative product solutions based on our customer needs. We create products in accordance with the need of our customers. This is what differentiates us from our competitors.
At the Global level what position Cosmo films occupy within the packaging film industry?
In India, we are the leaders in engineering films for packaging, labeling, lamination and Industrial applications. We are global leaders in thermal lamination films and one of the leading packaging, labelling and industrial film manufacturers in the world.
You offer a wide range of products including packaging films, labels, Industrial films, and more which range of your products has more potential for future growth?
Cosmo Films has been the pioneer of BOPP films in the country and since then the company has remained a focussed player in this segment. Because of this, it’s been able to develop the widest range of BOPP products and also develop specialties to address new emerging needs related to packaging design. Few of the recently developed products are listed below:
Packaging Films
- Ultra high Barrier Films to provide excellent moisture and oxygen barrier properties to the packaged material
- New range of CPP films including high barrier CPP film and high metal bond CPP film
- New range of lidding films including retort lidding film for flavored milk, juices etc.
- Heat Resistant BOPP film to work as printing layer replacing BOPET film in multi-layer laminates for various packaging applications
Lamination Films
- Black Velvet Lamination Films to offer an intense black colour along with a velvet touch
- Metalized Velvet Films to provide a brilliant metallic look with velvet touch
- Fragrance Lamination Film which releases a soothing smell when rubbed
- Anti- Viral and Anti- Bacterial Lamination Film for protection against viruses and bacteria
Label Films
- Digital Printable Label Films designed for digital printing on HP Indigo machine
- Solid White PSA Label Films, which is both sides corona treated to provide good ink and adhesive anchorage
- Matte Coated PSA Label Films which provide excellent printability with various printing technologies.
Industrial Films
- Universal Printable Cosmo Synthetic Paper, which is a replacement of paper in applications where durability and longevity is desired.
- 100% Opaque Cosmo Synthetic Paper
Over the years, we have changed from being a manufacturing led company to a customer centric organization with a footprint in more than 100 countries across the world. In the near future, we plan to substantially increase the supply and manufacture of our speciality films like Barrier Films, Synthetic Paper, Premium Lamination Films and more.
Last but not least with all the environmental concerns do you believe film packaging has a bright future? Why?
As mentioned earlier as well, the increased outcry for sustainability has allowed brands and packaging film manufacturers like us to think out of the box. Brands are now looking for packaging which is sustainable and reduce their carbon footprint, and film manufacturers are working their way towards creating films which are sustainable and easily recyclable, thus helping create a sustainable ecosystem.
At Cosmo Films, we have helped several brands to create recyclable packaging structures. For example, we helped develop recyclable packaging solution for soap, tea, shampoo, coffee, noodles packaging, for some of the biggest FMCG Companies in the India; in order to help them with their sustainability concerns.
New Innovations are at the core of Cosmo Films, are we are sure that film packaging will have a bright future.
About Pankaj Poddar
Global CEO, Cosmo Films Ltd.
Mr. Pankaj Poddar is the Global CEO of Cosmo Films Limited. An experienced finance professional, he trained as a Chartered Accountant after graduating from the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi. He started his career with a 7-year stint at Ernst and Young after which he worked with Reckitt Benckiser, Delphi Automotive and Avon Beauty in senior financial positions before joining Cosmo Films Limited in 2011.
With a career spanning over 26 years, Mr. Poddar is recognized as an authoritative figure in the packaging industry. He is a regular speaker at various packaging industry forums and sits on the board of Organization of Plastic Processors of India, Plast India and IFCA. Under his leadership, Cosmo Films Limited has crossed multiple milestones: from being ranked 10th in Fortune’s Next 500 Midsize Companies, to finding a place in the top 500 Corporate List published by Dun & Bradstreet.
The Company’s market cap has gone up several times during his stint and it has entered several new streams of business including master batches, textile chemicals, adhesives and Pet care business under his guidance, simultaneously applying for several new Patents. It has launched a range of innovative new products in recent years.
Mr. Poddar has been felicitated in numerous business forums and was awarded ‘Young Business Leader Award’ at the Dare to Dream Awards presented by Zee Business in association with SAP in 2018, the ‘People’s CEO’ at NIPM National HR Excellence Award, and the “Platinum Award” for “CEO of HR” by HRAI in January 2019. He has also been awarded with the “Indian CEO of the Year award” by Association of Business Communicators of India.
