How DCGpac’s Seema Bansal is Redefining B2B Packaging with Sustainability, Scale, and Women-Led Innovation
📝InterviewsAs India’s packaging industry scales rapidly, DCGpac is leading the shift with sustainable solutions and inclusive growth. Co-founder Seema Bansal shares how women-led innovation, strong supply chains, and design thinking are redefining B2B packaging.
The Indian packaging industry is rapidly evolving, driven by the rise of e-commerce, sustainable solutions, and efficient B2B logistics. Valued at US$ 84 billion in 2024, the market is projected to reach US$ 143 billion by 2029, with segments like eCommerce packaging and sustainable packaging witnessing strong double-digit growth.
This transformation is being shaped by leaders like DCGpac and its co-founder, Seema Bansal, who are redefining packaging as a strategic and sustainable business function. This International Women’s Day, she shares insights on building in a male-dominated industry, driving inclusion, and shaping the future of packaging in India.
Shaping DCGpac’s Vision in a Male-Dominated Packaging Industry
StartupTalky: DCGpac was co-founded by Seema Bansal alongside Subhasish Chakraborty, Suresh Bansal, and Sahil Bansal. In a B2B packaging industry historically dominated by men, what unique perspective did having a woman co-founder bring to how DCGpac built its business from the ground up?
Seema Bansal: Seema Bansal is the co-founder of DCGpac since 2005, along with Suresh Bansal, Sahil Bansal, and Subhasish Chakraborty, when we went back to the United States and realized that there was a major gap in the packaging ecosystem in India. Quality control was poor, there was minimal transparency between the manufacturers and the customers, and packaging was usually taken as an auxiliary factor as opposed to a business tactic.
We went out to establish this disjointed industry together through the establishment of a platform where businesses find dependable packaging solutions.
It was not customary for a female entrepreneur to venture into this industry. The number of women who were in the packaging industry was very small. Nonetheless, I never thought of packaging as a box, a polybag, or a tape, but it is the initial tangible embodiment of a promise of a brand to its customer.
The philosophy of DCGpac was based on that belief. Since its inception, we paid attention to quality, transparency, and lasting customer relationships, which helped businesses to perceive packaging as a cost-negative but essential aspect of their brand.
Creating Equal Growth Opportunities for Women in Logistics and Operations
StartupTalky: With over 58,000 business customers and a billion products delivered, DCGpac operates at a massive scale. How does the company ensure that women in its warehouse operations, supply chain, and logistics teams have equal growth opportunities in what is traditionally seen as a male-dominated space?
Seema Bansal: The logistics ecosystem and packaging have been a male-dominated field. We deliberately took the other path at DCGpac. Our workforce today consists of approximately 40 percent women, and this is noteworthy in an industry like the one we represent.
Women play several roles, including operations, fulfilment centres, design, customer experience, and leadership. Packaging processes and operational processes in our fulfilment centres involve women. We make such a workplace to be properly constructed, secure, and honorable places, so that women can work unhindered and develop professionally.
In addition to the operation, we also observe women leaders all around our offices in Gurgaon, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Dubai, and the UK, to name but a few, who have assisted in determining the organisation's strategy and culture. In our case, diversity is not a mere representation, as it enhances decision-making and a stronger organisation.
Women-Led Demand Driving Sustainable Packaging at DCGpac
StartupTalky: DCGpac launched EcoPac for sustainable packaging solutions, male-dominated, including biodegradable and compostable materials. Research shows women consumers and women-led businesses disproportionately drive demand for sustainable packaging. How has this trend influenced DCGpac's product development strategy?
Seema Bansal: The concept of sustainability is becoming the main topic of discussion in the packaging industry. At DCGpac, the environmental responsibility awareness among female entrepreneurs and female brands has been high, especially in areas such as D2C, beauty, fashion, and food. These corporations are highly aware of the effect of their packaging on their brand values.
Consequently, the demand for environmentally friendly materials and sustainable packaging methods increases. This need has prompted us to increase our attention on the sustainable packaging options, so that a business can embrace the environmentally friendly packaging solutions without compromising the safety of the product and efficiency in business operations. We are also convinced that sustainability will keep influencing the future of packaging innovation, and responsible packaging will soon be a common requirement as opposed to a niche service.
Expanding Women’s Participation in Quick Commerce and Fulfillment
StartupTalky: The quick commerce revolution through QuPac requires setting up dark stores and fulfillment centers across India. What percentage of DCGpac's dark store workforce and quick commerce operations team are women, and what specific steps have been taken to make these roles accessible to them?
Seema Bansal: The evolution of online trade and fast commerce is changing the supply chains in India, and the packaging fulfilment business is not excluded. DCGpac already has women working in our fulfilment centres and active teams, helping in the packaging, inventory management, and quality inspection. Our attention is on creating environments where women will feel comfortable through organized workflow, work training, and work environments.
With the ever-changing operational technology, a good number of jobs within logistics and fulfillment are becoming more process-oriented and electronic. This change is assisting in generating more access to and opportunities for women in the supply chain activities. We have a long-term goal of ensuring that we have more women joining the ranks of operations to become leaders in logistics and fulfillment management.
Driving Packaging Design Innovation Through Women Professionals
StartupTalky: DCGpac's Design to Distribution (D2D) service involves creative packaging design work alongside heavy logistics. How do women professionals at DCGpac contribute to the design innovation side, and can you share an example of a packaging solution that was conceptualized by a woman on your team?
Seema Bansal: Packaging nowadays is a potent marketing instrument of brand storytelling and communication with customers. The female employees of DCGpac are quite active in the field of design and have a creative approach to the packaging solutions. They collaborate with the brands to get insights on the identity and positioning of the product, as well as customer expectations.
We work with businesses to avoid the challenge of turning their product vision into a product that is packaged in a way that meets both the functionality and appearance requirements. Women designers usually have a rich consumer behaviour experience and brand aesthetics, which are used in producing packaging that not only adds to the overall customer experience during the unboxing but also makes them logistically efficient.
Building a Diverse Leadership Pipeline at Scale
StartupTalky: As a Gurugram-headquartered company that has raised over $4 million in funding, how does DCGpac approach gender diversity in its leadership pipeline, especially as it scales from a packaging supplier to a full-stack B2B platform?
Seema Bansal: DCGpac has expanded tremendously after its establishment. We have a good foundation serving thousands of businesses in India and around the world, and the company is still growing at a good CAGR of more than 60 a year. Our path has also been noted by various reputable media such as Forbes, The Times of India, and top CXO forums, which have all recognized DCGpac as a business ecosystem transformer and business growth supporter.
Due to the fact that we are scaling, we strongly believe in the creation of a diverse leadership culture. Women are found in various functions within our organisation, including in our strategic positions in our offices both in India and the international community. We also have a vigorous recruitment of young talent based on the campus hiring programs, where the upcoming generation of professionals is able to develop with the company.
We intend to make certain that, despite the transformation of DCGpac into a technology-oriented B2B packaging and procurement service, diversity and inclusion will continue to be part of our leadership philosophy.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: A Message of Confidence and Growth
StartupTalky: This Women's Day, what message does DCGpac want to send to women entrepreneurs and small business owners who are among its 58,000+ customers about how the right packaging partner can help them compete with larger brands?
Seema Bansal: To all women, I would say: Be your own decision-maker. Unless you make your own choices, someone will do the same, and the choice made might not necessarily be the right one for you. In the world, judge thyself before the world judges thee.
Set your own standards. Test yourself. Pass your own challenges. You are at least a step ahead once you determine that you can accomplish something. You are already a winner. The mission of DCGpac is to help entrepreneurs grow and expand to new markets by offering effective solutions to supply chain challenges, considering design, and reliable packaging.
However, Women’s Day to me is not just about celebrating women or women entrepreneurs. It is all about rejoicing in victory. Women can win at a lot of things: to win hearts, to win trust, to win respect in society, to win in their families, and to win in their journeys. This Women’s Day, we not only glorify women but also glorify the spirit of winning, boldness, and self-confidence that every woman holds within her.
Sakshi Jadhav