Cosmo Films India, a BOPP films manufacturer, will be developing home compostable films with bio-degradability features. Such films are available in the market but the acceptance is low due to the high cost while the company is looking ahead to launch low cost products, making it a market viable application.

Pankaj Poddar, CEO, Cosmo Films, said, “Home compostable films, having bio-degradable features and intelligent films which have use in packaging will be our target in the years to come.  Home compostable films will be our prime target in the coming year. Though Indian market is not yet looking towards such products due to the high-cost involved. But surely once this product is out it will revolutionise the industry as we are finding low cost solutions as high-cost solutions already exist in the market.”

Small expansions
The company is also investing in research and development (R&D) after successfully launching product innovations like synthetic paper, self adhesive labels. The company is also credited for launching first industrial film, BOPP, which is currently doing well.

Poddar said, “We are also coming up with some small expansions in next 6 to 9 months and we will be converting one of our lines from normal to speciality line. With our flagship BOPP, we are also helping brands with the recyclability features with the monolayer structures.”

Cosmo films also has coating portfolio with applications properties like anti barrier, improving printability, giving texture and feel, and customised solutions based in consumer needs. Poddar said, “On the BOPP front we have 15 per cent market share globally and in India almost 80 per cent. We also have commissioned our coating line recently.”

Packaging being the major consumer of the films across the globe, demand in packaging sector is always positive and normally grows to the double of GDP rate, as a formula. Packaging offers first touch and feel of the product, is growing. Poddar stated, “In our BOPP products are recyclable and are used widely in packaging industry. It has shown promising growth in the recent past. In many cases people are looking for mono layer materials. Hence, it is helping brands to create recyclable structures.”

In automotive segment, company’s synthetic paper has some applications for tagging purpose in India. Though, globally the company has some products for automotive sector. Poddar also said that the company will be coming up with some products in the automotive segment in the near future.

Cosmo Films has been looking ahead to develop solution where the needs of the industry are not met and to make it commercially viable. Company’s last offerings like heat-resistant BOPP for packaging industry where they were the first to do so.

The BOPP films is an 8 million tonne market globally in terms of volume and a $100 million market globally while in India it is roughly $1.5 million market.  

The company has recently won 5S Award for hygiene products and another award for its Walunj plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra and other two plants were also classified as golden category companies.

On quality side, the company focuses on improving standards and are currently at 5.2 sigma level, equivalent to those with global competitors.