The Great Indian Plastic Ban

Ahh, here we are again. Another year, Another plastic ban. How many more would we need before we actually have one? Plastic is killing our planet, but does somebody really care? Or Plastic is omnipresent. How are we supposed to live without it?

Do you have any of these thoughts? Then read on…

Basics First:

The ban is on manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of single use plastic - specifically on ‘single-use plastic items which have low utility and high littering potential’. The first announcement of this ban was made in August 2021 (to be implemented on 1st July, 2022) which gave a year’s notice to the relevant stakeholders.

Why do we need tackle the plastic waste.. Like RIGHT NOW?

India generates 26,000 tonnes of plastic waste on a daily basis, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Almost 40% of it is littered on the roads, markets, parks etc. Discarded plastic breaks down into micro and nanoparticles entering our waterways and soil. Microplastics are between 0.001 and 5 millimeters in size, and nanoplastics are less than 0.001 millimeters. These eventually enter our food chain via seafood or packaging of fruit and vegetables.

From the most remote depths of the ocean, to the deepest section of the human lung, microplastics appear to have invaded every bit of our lives, including the human gastrointestinal tract. The Medical University of Vienna has recently published a study which suggests that on average, five grams of plastic particles enter the human gastrointestinal tract per person, per week. That’s equivalent to a credit card! Other studies have already found particles in the human blood* and organs. While microplastics have also been found in unborn babies.**

We are breathing and eating plastic, literally.

Will the Ban help?

It will create a ripple effect from the top. When the manufacture and sale of these items are banned, the consumer will have no choice but to look for alternatives. Sustainable ones, I might add. The manufacturers will have to follow suit. That’s where the opportunity and the challenge lies.

But first, let’s look at the list of banned items. These can be broadly categorized:

• Plastic sticks - ear buds, balloons, ice cream, candy etc.
• Plastic Cutlery - spoons, fork, knife, plates, straws, cups, glasses, stirrers etc.
• Thermocol / polystyrene - plates, glasses, decoration etc.
• Plastic packaging - sweet boxes, cigarette packs etc.
• Plastic/PVC banners - less than 100 microns, Flags.

From some estimates, these might cover 10-20% of the plastic waste. Now that might sound low but it’s a start. And we needed one desperately. But the bigger question is, how are we going to execute it. For it to be successful, public participation is critical. Recently, we, Litter Free India mission joined hands with the UP Government for a week-long campaign across the state - RACE to beat single use plastics. All local bodies contributed and we were able to get locals in every district to join us for a plogging activity. This was a great way to mobilize and empower citizens so that they feel responsible for the success of such initiatives. These efforts need to be replicated by all states in driving public participation.?

Other Important Considerations:

Now, that leaves us with another 80% of plastic waste to be tackled. Is there a roadmap to tackling all plastic waste? What about multi-layered packaging, especially tobacco packets? These are some of the most littered items we find during our plogging runs across the country. And are not just risk for the environment and our health, but also the biggest source of spitting pollution.

Are there eco-friendly, sustainable, and not expensive alternatives available? Remember, for mass adoption of anything, cost-effectiveness is extremely critical. With single-use plastic, the short-term cost is relatively lower.*** So, the alternatives need to be not just sustainable but also cost-effective to not put pressure on the middle class.

Another critical consideration is that the plastic ban should not lead to an increased demand for paper, wooden and similar alternatives. In certain cases, the footprint of these alternatives could be higher. Also, these come from trees. Increased demand would have a direct impact on our green and forest cover. Surely, that would not be good. For this reason, we consumers need to start practising BYOB (bring your own bottle), BYOC( bring your own cutlery/cup), and other similar trends. Remember plastic itself is not the villain, it's our single-use lifestyle that makes it one.

Some of the banned items are non-branded. So, small & medium industries will be manufacturing them. What about the people employed in these industries? There could be lakhs of people out there. A lot of them could be daily wage labourers. Has the Government provided alternative employment to them? Its critical that a ban is a holistic change and no particular section of the society bears its biggest brunt.

Every change should: - be holistic and long-term. - consider and reduce the untoward impact on any section of society. - ensure we don't end up in some other crisis in the longer-term. - above all, solve the problem!

Were you aware of the plastic ban? Has it impacted your life in any way since July 1st, 2022?

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*https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/25/plastic-is-now-in-our-bloodstream-what-does-this-mean-for-us **https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/10/27/foetuses-can-be-affected-by-microplastics-scientists-find ***Please note we are not questioning the long-term cost which is much higher because it includes health impact and SUP’s contribution to climate change. It’s a referral to a common man’s priorities as they try to make their two ends meet on a daily basis. So they might go for the cheapest options available.