Lok Sabha Question No. 86 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Green Alternatives of Plastics
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION No. *86

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.11.2019

## Green Alternatives of Plastics

## *86. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has set up or proposes to set up specific research fund or a global  contest  for  developing  ecologically  sustainable  and  green  alternatives  of plastics;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has any other schemes to promote research for ecologically sustainable and green alternatives of plastics; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 86 to be answered on Friday, the 22 nd November, 2019 on 'Green Alternatives of Plastics' by Shri Dushyant Singh

(a) and (b) With  the  revolution  of  the  Indian  economy  in  1991,  Urban  India  embraced consumerism and a demand for products has also been emerged. Among the various factors driving this growth, one of the most significant factor is increasing use of plastics by the FastMoving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. Due to its durability, strength, inert behavior and low cost, plastic emerged as one of the most reliable packaging material for the industries. As an outcome, the increase in demand for plastic has indirectly resulted into the challenge of plastic waste management.

Due  to  various  positive  factors  including  cheap  cost  associated  with  plastic  packaging, finding  an  ecologically  sustainable  and  green  alternativeto  plastic  is  a  challenging  task. However, with an objective to ensure the sound management of plastic waste, Ministry has already started taking initiatives, for effective management of plastic waste in the country.

The Government has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. As per the Rules, the generators of waste have been mandated to take steps to minimize generation of plastic waste, not  to  litter  the  plastic  waste,  ensure  segregated  storage  of  waste  at  source  and  handover segregated waste to local bodies or agencies authorised by the local bodies. The Rules further mandate that the plastic waste, which can be recycled, shall be channelized to registered plastic waste recycler and recycling of plastic shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 14534:1998. The  local  bodies  to  encourage  the  use  of  plastic  waste  (preferably  the  plastic  waste  which cannot be further recycled) for road construction as per Indian Road Congress  guidelines or energy  recovery  or  waste  to  oil  etc.  The  rules  mandate  the  producers,  importers  and  brand owners to work out modalities for waste collection system based on the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility.

Further, the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 defines the norms for compostable plastic as an ecologically sustainable and green alternatives of plastics. The Rules prohibit the use of plastic  bags  with  thickness  less  than  50  microns.  However,the  provision  of  thickness  is  not applicable  to  carry  bags  made  up  of  compostable  plastic.  The  carry  bags  made  from compostable  plastics  has  to  conform  to  the Indian  Standard: IS 17088:2008  titled  as Specifications for Compostable Plastics.

Further,  an  expert  group  has  been  constitutedby  Central  Institute  of  Plastics  Engineering  & Technology (CIPET) with respect to research and development for Compostable/Biodegradabletechnology on Plastic.

(c) and (d) Considering  the  high  environmental  costs  associated  with  management  of single-use plastics, particularly the adverse effect on marine environment, and the need for a definitive  response  supplementing  actions  undertaken  by  various  States/UTs  to  combat single-use plastic pollution, Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced India's pledge to phase out Single-use plastic by 2022.

As pronounced by Hon'ble Prime Minister, the Ministry is working on the principle of 6R's (Reduce,  Reuse,  Recycle,  Recover,  Redesign  and  Remanufacture.)  to  combat  with  plastic pollution. In this perspective and to promote ecologically sustainable and green alternatives of plastics, the Ministry has subsequently issued 'Standard Guidelines on Single Use Plastic' with  suggested  different  set  of  actions  for  State/UT  Government  to  minimize  the  usage  of single  use  plastics.  The  guidelinessuggestalternativesto  SUP,  such  as  jute bags,  cloth  bags, paper bags as an alternative to plastic carry bags. Similarly, sufficient alternatives available for  the  plastic  cutlery  such  as  paper  plates  and  leaf  plates,  paper/earthen  cups  and  glass, wooden  spoons,  paper  straws,  multi-layered  (aluminum  +  paper)  pouches  in  place  of container and container lids, wooden trays, stirrers made of wood. Apart from the traditional material,  the  new  material  like  bagasse  based  products,  banana  stem  based  products  are widely available in market.

An easy replacement is available for ear buds sticks, balloons sticks, flags, candies etc made of plastic. For the portion of plastic in the these items, wood/bamboo/paper etc is the easily available option. The PVC materials which are commonly used for flex, banners and posters are hazard to health and environment. Alternatively, cloth banner, lightweight textile fabric, wrinkle resistant warp knit, natural fibre-based sandwich board, resin-infused paper, partial boards can be used.

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