The research will focus on converting crop residues such as wheat straw and bagasse into high-quality pulp for paper mailers, with performance comparable to conventional paper packaging. This could also create additional income for farmers by providing a market for agricultural residues, Amazon India said in a statement.
The collaboration with IIT Roorkee’s department of paper and packaging technology will begin with lab-scale development and testing over a 15-month period. Subject to successful performance tests, Amazon will provide support to progress for industrial trials, process validation, and commercial production by mid to late next year, the statement added.
“India generates nearly 500 million tonnes of this waste annually, and by repurposing it into packaging, we can support a more circular economy while reducing reliance on conventional materials,’’ said Amazon India vice president (operations) Abhinav Singh.
IIT Roorkee director Kamal Kishore Pant said sustainability was no longer a choice, but an urgent national priority. “This collaboration is a step towards realizing India’s vision of a circular economy, aligned with government missions such as Swachh Bharat, Startup India, and the National Resource Efficiency Policy…. This initiative showcases how academic research and industry partnerships can accelerate India’s journey towards a more sustainable and self-reliant future.”
Professor Vibhore Kumar Rastogi and Dr Anurag Kulshreshtha from the INNOPAP Lab (Innovations in Paper and Packaging) at IIT Roorkee, Saharanpur campus, will be leading the project.