About BIOPackathon 2026

1. BACKGROUND

Packaging waste arising from small-sized, single-use sachets used for pan masala and gutkha products has emerged as a major environmental concern across the country. Such sachets are often manufactured using multi-layered plastic-based laminates, which are difficult to collect, segregate, recycle, or dispose of in an environmentally sound manner. As a result, these packaging formats contribute significantly to littering, soil contamination, blockage of drainage systems, and long-term persistence in terrestrial and marine environments.

The Honourable Supreme Court of India, vide its order dated 07 December 2010, has prohibited the use of plastic material in any form for packaging of gutkha, pan masala, and tobacco products. The same has been reiterated under the provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

In view of the increasing national focus on waste reduction, sustainable consumption, and environmentally responsible packaging systems, there is a need to explore and develop plastic-free, biodegradable packaging alternatives that are functional, safe, scalable, and compliant with regulatory requirements. Recognizing this, the proposed hackathon aims to bring together innovators, researchers, start-ups, and industry stakeholders to identify prototype ready and already developed next-generation biodegradable packaging materials and formats that are safe, scalable, should not produce any harmful substances or residues during or after biodegradation and environmentally benign for use in packaging of pan masala and gutkha.

2. OBJECTIVE OF THE HACKATHON

The objective of the hackathon is to promote the development and identification of technically viable, plastic-free biodegradable packaging solutions for pan masala and gutkha that meet functional packaging requirements such as mechanical properties, barrier properties and shelf-life stability, and support scalable industry adoption and future standardisation.

3. EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Participants are expected to present already developed or prototype-ready plastic-free, biodegradable sachet packaging solutions for pan masala and gutkha that satisfy the challenge requirements outlined above.

All submissions should be supported by evidence of biodegradability, food safety, functional performance and scalability & economic viability. The evidence may be in the form of relevant data/test reports/certifications or any other evidence, as available.