Lok Sabha Question No. 935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-03
Subject: Promotion of Biodegradable and Compostable Polymers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Pocha Brahmananda Reddy, Kotagiri Sridhar, M V V Satyanarayana, Chinta Anuradha, Goddeti Madhavi, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Sanjeev Kumar Singari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 935 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03-12-2021

## Promotion of Biodegradable and Compostable Polymers

## 935. SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

DR. SANJEEV KUMAR SINGARI:

## Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government has taken any steps or initiatives to promote the use of Bio Degradable and Compostable polymers in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  review  the  National  Policy  on Petrochemicals  which  was  announced  in  2007  and  bring  it  in  line  with  current technological and environmental changes taking place across the globe; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (DR. MANSUKH MANDAVIYA)

- (a)  and  (b)  To  promote  the  research  and  development  of  Bio-Degradable  and Compostable polymers in the country, the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals provided financial support to establish the Centre of Excellence at the

Indian  Institute  of  Technology  (IIT),  Guwahati  with  the  mandate  to  develop  biodegradable Plastics and its products for the need of Indian Industries. The other two Centres of Excellence were established with the support of the Department at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune and Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Bhubaneswar also works to promote bio-degradable polymers like Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) and their composites.

The department also promotes Green / Bio-degradable polymer innovation by providing the National Petrochemicals Awards for Technology Innovation in Petrochemical and downstream Plastic Processing Industry in the category of Green / Bio-degradable polymer.

As per Rule 4 (h) of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended, the restriction imposed on thickness under the rules, shall not be applicable to carry bags and commodities made up of compostable plastic. Carry bags made from compostable plastics shall conform to the Indian Standard: IS 17088:2008 titled as Specifications for Compostable Plastics, as amended from time to time. The manufacturers or seller of compostable plastic carry bags or commodities or both shall obtain a certificate from the Central Pollution Control Board before marketing or selling. The Central Pollution Control  Board  has  developed  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  for  issuing  of Certificates to manufacturers/seller of Compostable plastic/products.  Online portal for certification  of  Manufacturers/Seller  has  also  been  developed  by  Central  Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the draft Regulations  on  the  Extended  Producer  Responsibility  (EPR)  for  plastic  packaging under Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as amended from time to time, in the Gazette of India vide GSR No. 722 (E) on 6th October, 2021, for public consultation.

As per the draft EPR notification, in case, the obligated entities having utilizes plastic packaging which is 100% biodegradable in the ambient environment leaving no  traces  of  micro  plastics/chemical  residue/any  other  traces  having  adverse environmental and health impacts as certified by regulatory entities CPCB, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS), CIPET, the EPR target will not be applicable for such material.

(c)  and  (d)  No.  The  current  National  policy  on  Petrochemicals  is  in  line  with  the technological and environmental changes occurring in the country and worldwide.