In India, Parason has worked with ABB to automate and scale up production of sustainable and compostable packaging solutions. The partnership was formed to assist Parason's customers in reducing their reliance on single-use plastics and Styrofoam packaging. These moulded fibre tableware products are widely used in restaurants and cafes, food catering, transportation, travel, and industry canteens.

ABB robots integrated with Parason's machinery will aid in the efficient production of agro-waste products, resulting in 100 percent eco-friendly compostable packaging solutions. ABB initially deployed 10 robots at Parason's five forming machine cell, and by the end of last year, had added another 20 robots.

ABB robots will help increase OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) performance by 30% when compared to manual pick-and-place applications, while eliminating ergonomic risks for the workforce and improving overall health and safety.

The 3.5 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in India each year creates a variety of hazards, which is why the country has implemented a nationwide ban on single-use plastic, according to Subrata Karmakar, Country President, Robotics and Discrete Automation Business, ABB India. ABB's innovative robotic solutions, combined with Parason's revolutionary turn-key manufacturing process based on agro-waste, will play an important role in addressing climate change by implementing a 100% compostable alternative to plastics. Every year, approximately 500 million tonnes of farm waste are generated in India, which can now be used to create sustainable packaging solutions.

According to Madhure Desarda, Director of Operations at Parason Group, ABB's automated solutions have aided in the creation of a viable, cost-effective value chain and the maintenance of a low-carbon environment. This year, Parason plans to deploy 250 forming machine cells capable of replacing 150 tonnes of single-use plastic per day.