Ban or no ban, plastic is not the basic problem, it is the mindset.

Towards a Plastic Free India:

We all have been observing the menace caused by plastic and improper disposal of the same. Some say banning all plastic products is the only solution, some say that there is no alternate and hence a ban must not be implemented at this time.

Ban or no ban, it that going to reduce your problems? To me, plastic is not the basic problem. The basic problem is the mindset, that is not ready to say goodbye to plastics. Do you recall, we used breads, biscuits wrapped in paper just a few decades back? Slowly and slowly, the product packaging shifted to plastic due to various reasons, and now we are facing problems.

But, when you buy a bread, a packet of biscuits, a pouch or bottle of tomato ketchup, do you really worry what type of packaging has been used for it? Often the answer is NO. In fact, we generally buy what is available, or more economical. To a certain extent, we also get get biased as per the advertisements.

Let me name another product. Vest and other undergarments. Even after thinking a lot, I have not yet able to understand what specific properties do these contain for which these need a plastic packet to pack these. Does the colour, taste, aroma, size or shape changes if these are wrapped in paper against plastics? But most of us are OK with that.

So, what is the personal strategy being used by people to reduce plastics? The strategy is simple- "Government should ban these."

Yes sir. We do not want to reduce plastics. We do not want to make any effort towards our environment. We just want that the Governments should take the lead. We just want that the Governments must face the difficulties. We just want to blame officers for being careless towards their duties, to blame for taking bribes. We just want to blame factories for producing plastics and packing their products in plastics.

Sorry to say, plastic is not going to be vanished just by this approach. Next time, when you go to buy anything, just politely ask your shopkeeper such questions-

Is the bread company planning to shift to paper packaging?

I need to buy tomato ketchup, but please give me in glass bottle, and not in plastic pouch.

Can I have vests of _ brand, without a poly packaging? If no, can you give me these in open condition and keep the polythene with you?

Keep asking these questions repeatedly. I am sure the shopkeeper shall convey your questions to distributor and from there, the message shall go to suppliers. Not only this, ask similar questions to customer care of various brand owners

Remember: Your silence is the biggest obstruction in plastic eradication.