Bengaluru, July 16 -- Consumers have started judging products by their packaging. So, India's new-age food and home care companies are responding by spending significantly more on packaging as demand for preservative-free and low-chemical products moves into the mainstream.

Anicut Capital-backed spices startup Khetika has increased its packaging-related R&D investment by almost 50% over the past two to three years.

Dairy company Akshayakalpa Organic has moved to paperboard packaging, a material that, when layered with a thin polymer or aluminium coating, offers strong moisture resistance, structural rigidity during transit and adequate oxygen-barrier properties to keep milk fresh.

Large packaging manufacturers including Alternicq (form...