Preparations going on on war footing India Prepares itself to ban notified single-use plastic items. While instructions have already been issued to all states to curb the supply of banned items, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has also asked petrochemical industries to stop the supply of plastic raw materials to those engaged in the production of banned items. asked for. 1 July.
Amid tight domestic supply of raw materials, industries are vying for imports to keep their supply chain going uninterrupted.
Mother Dairy MD Manish Bandlish told News18, “We are gearing up to handle the situation.” “The challenge is that we do not have any local vendors who can help us meet this demand. Hence, like most other companies, we are also forced to import paper straws, an important commodity, at very high prices. We have already placed orders, but there are logistics issues as the same supplier is providing straws to multiple players.
While most industries have already switched to some single-use plastic items such as cutlery and ice cream sticks, it is the paucity of paper straws that has dealt them a major blow. Mother Diary alone consumes over 20 million (20 million) straws per year. It is among several enterprises that have written to government officials, including the CPCB, to defer the ban by six months to at least a year. “We have not received any response yet. We can just wait and see. But we will try to manage our best,” he added.
no standardization
In the search for sustainable and viable alternatives, another challenge facing the industry is the lack of standardisation. The industry is saddened that Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is yet to finalize the quality standards for the substitutes, their bio-degradability, process of manufacturing as well as the waste handling of alternatives like biopolymers/bioplastics. The process has been finalized. “The normal process of manure testing of alternative molecules takes at least six months, and this is yet to be done. There is no standard or quality check for many of these alternatives, without which no industry can use them as there is a huge amount of it,” said Dr Praveen Agarwal, of industry body Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC). CEO, say. Which has also sought an additional time of 18 months.
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For the packaging industry, it is also a challenge to find a direct alternative to locally available BOPP films (polypropylene), which are used extensively for packaging products as it retains moisture and is more efficient than cellophane sheets. Can hold better weight. The notified list of prohibited items also includes packaging/wrapping of plastic films for sweets cans, cigarette packets and invitation cards.
difficult transition
The transition to paper sticks for cotton ear buds for small and micro industries is also fraught with difficulties. In the absence of local vendors, MSME units which have so far imported paper from countries like Finland and Sweden lament that it is putting a financial burden on them. Confectionery companies such as Perfetti Van Mele India, famous for its candy and lollipops, are importing their paper sticks from Europe.
According to industry representatives, machinery worth about Rs 3.50 crore for manufacturing the paper stick has already been imported mostly by medium and large enterprises, and is expected to reach machines worth at least Rs 2 crore by September. Pandemic-induced restrictions over the past year have further delayed the process. Vinod Kumar, president of India SME Forum, told News18, “After the ban by China, some units have tried to buy and import new machinery.” “Unlike large companies, small units cannot afford to import machinery and alternative commodities/raw materials on a large scale to meet the demand.”
While some units are in the process of converting/calibrating high-end machines to run biodegradable sticks for making cotton buds, says Kumar, many machines cannot be modified. “A staggering ban by January 2023 will give us time to stabilize, and find alternatives for the lowest cost source, while remaining competitive,” he urges the government.
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The exploration of alternatives has prompted stakeholders to explore products made from compostable/biodegradable plastics, biopolymers, bamboo, paper to steel. But unlike plastics, which offer durability, convenience, and unparalleled benefits to insulating products from air-borne germs, other options haven’t inspired much confidence. Wood/bamboo can shatter and is susceptible to mildew growth as it can absorb moisture while the paper gets wet before a drink is finished. “The industry is not against the ban, but how it is being implemented. “While it is up to the industry to explore alternatives, there is also the question of availability of raw materials, especially for MSMEs, which the government needs to handle,” says Sandeep Chhetri, CEO, TradeIndia.com.
time to manage
According to Deepak Ballani, Director General, All India Plastic Manufacturers Association, the focus should also be on taking action on proper management of plastic waste, which he considers a bigger challenge than the flow of SUP items. “We also want a clean India and are ready for change. But why not focus on the root of the problem – plastic waste. We need to improve waste segregation at the source level and enhance our recycling infrastructure,” he says.
As the industry scrambles to procure substantial amounts of options, while still hoping to defy the ban for at least a year, experts highlight that it has to take other measures to meet the current challenge. Ideas should focus their attention – one of which may again be – designing product packaging.
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“The best way to get rid of plastic waste is probably to move to a different product design, eliminating the need for that item. All of these SUP items were identified on the basis of their “low utility”, so it’s not too difficult for the industry to innovate and experiment with a few design changes. If it works, it can help them tackle the problem of dependence on imports,” suggests Siddharth Singh, program manager (environmental governance and waste management) at the Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment.
“It is certain that the world will eventually move towards plastic-free alternatives in the years to come, and we will have no choice but to adapt, so why not start now?”
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