The Indian Plastic Industry, an industry with an annual turnover of Rs 2.25 lakh crores and an industry that is responsible for being the provider for many Indian households has been recently hit by a truck.

Things went downhill

Indian Prime Minister announced that there is a new target being set for the future of India, a new milestone to be achieved by 2022. The goal of being a single-use plastic-free nation was established in 2018 by Mr. Narendra Modi on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti.

Single-use plastics?

Single-use plastics are non-recyclable plastics like used in bags, straws, and cups which are mainly responsible for the plastic waste generation of the nation. Unlike wastes in shampoo bottles and soft drink bottles which get recycled, shredded and converted to trash cans or toys, single-use plastics take 1000 years to decompose. In fact, the most commonly used plastic packaging called multi-layered plastics (MLP) used for biscuits or chips is the major type of single-use plastic impacting the environment.

The impact?

1)  Air pollution will drop as a reduction in burning of plastics on roadsides to reduce waste accumulation

2) Drastic impact on the plastics association and industry by banning their main produce

3) Packaging industry which accounts for 1/3rd of plastic consumption will suffer a setback as its main raw material will vanish

4) Lack of direct substitutes will make it difficult for the Government to make the plan effective

5) Saving the soil and water from radical levels of high pollution

6) Loss of livelihood of employees working in the plastics industry or in indirect connection to the same (waste collection, recycle or in say packaging industry)

Even after all of this, the fact remains the same: An official future announcement of banning plastic won’t work, the Government needs a more well-sought out plan since this will have both negative and positive impacts. In fact, they have to realize, as long as they don’t curb the demand, the supply will exist.