Growing demand for Unilever’s laundry products in
India has created a need for quality packaging, which Amcor will satisfy with a
new manufacturing plant dedicated to the needs of the global consumer-goods
giant. Amcor’s efficient new factory in Bharuch, Gujarat,
in the Western region of India started operations this week after an official
ceremonial event in October with executives from both companies.
As part of a seven-year agreement with Unilever
signed in 2017, Amcor, the global packaging leader, made a substantial
investment to build and equip the state-of-the-art Bharuch plant.
“Across all home-care categories, consumers in
India are choosing products with packaging that provide them with the most
convenience,” said Michael Zacka, president of Amcor Flexibles Asia Pacific,
who attended the ceremony.
Mr Zacka said the site brings new-technology
flexographic printing to the India market, and will be “a centre of excellence
for product development and more sustainable packaging solutions.”
The new plant is producing packaging for Unilever
that will meet the rapidly evolving expectations of the company and the
consumers who buy its products. The 8,000-square-metre plant has three lines that
will run 24 hours a day, producing flexible packaging using advanced
flexographic technology. From initial employment of 50 people, Amcor
anticipates the team in Bharuch to grow to 180 by December 2019.
Mr. Zacka said customers, suppliers and Amcor
people should see the investment as evidence of his company’s “strong belief in
India’s tremendous present and future, and the huge opportunity for Amcor and
all our stakeholders.” After cutting a ceremonial ribbon, Henk Sijbring,
Vice President, Packaging Procurement, Unilever, described the site opening as
a major milestone in the global partnership between Unilever and Amcor.
“This is the culmination of several years of strong
collaboration and business growth between Unilever and Amcor,” said Mr.
Sjibring. “The hub model, and the innovative ways of working it enables, is the
first of its kind in packaging for Unilever and represents another significant
commitment in this long-term partnership. The hub will enhance the capabilities
of both companies to further delight consumers with market leading sustainable
and innovative packaging solutions,” said Mr. Sijbring.
Unilever and Amcor have both committed to make all
their packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025, to increasing the use of
recycled content in plastic packaging, and to working with others to drive up
recycling rates around the world.
The Bharuch plant is one example of Amcor’s broad,
global environmental program, which sets ambitious targets for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions and energy and water use for the company’s 200
locations around the world. The local Amcor team intends to have the site
certified for sending zero waste-to-disposal.
Amcor employs more than 1,100 people across seven sites
in India, who produce high-quality packaging for global, regional and national
food and beverages, home and personal care, medical and pharmaceutical
businesses across the region. Amcor has 38 sites across eight countries in the
Asia Pacific region.
