Page 12 - Plastics News December 2017

AIPMA AT WORK

Press Release for favour of Publication

By : Mr. Hiten Bheda – President, AIPMA

Environment surely is a concern but banning plastic goods is

impractical: AIPMA

umbai. 27th November 2017. Calling it as an and prescribed drugs, use plastic as packaging. Ban would
Mimpractical suggestion, the idea of banning of Carry not only impact the plastics universe but also the user
Bags and PET bottles mooted for Maharashtra was argued industries. It would also be a challenge in implementing
against by All India Plastics Manufacturers Association the ban as consumers will source goods from neighboring
(AIPMA), the largest body of plastics industry in India. states or countries. The ban will go against the principle
Supporting their points with examples, AIPMA urged the of one nation – one market”:
government to work jointly with all stakeholders to evolve Our Mr. Haren Sanghavi, All Association Chairman, further
a workable solution. According to AIPMA, it is proven clarifies that “Plastics industry’s universe includes 55,000
plastics have a lowest carbon footprint as compared processing companies, 20,000 recycling units, 5.5 Billion
with any other replacement in terms of Transportation, direct employees and over 70 lakh indirect employees
Production process, Power Consumption, Processing which include rag-pickers and waste collectors. Banning
Temperatures, Scrap Recycling & Washing, etc. The Plastics will not solve the issues that the Government is
Maharashtra government issued a 3-month deadline planning to irradiate, but will cause mass unemployment
to bottled water companies to set up a reverse supply and de-industrialization. Solution is Improved Waste
mechanism and recycling plants, failing which a complete Management and Ban on Littering”
ban on plastics will be enforced in the state.
On the environmental impact of plastics,
Elaborating on the issues, Hiten Bheda, President, All India Akhilesh Bhargava, Chairman, Environment Committee,
Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA), said, “We AIPMA, shared that the environment and health hazards
urge the state government to drop the idea of banning
will be more from using alternative materials. It takes
20 liters of water to clean one crate of glass bottles
meaning about 120 crore litres water to be used up
annually for this. Water is scarce in drought-prone
Maharashtra. Storing water in glass bottles is far less
hygienic as washing is not enough to sterilize them. A
HDPE plastic bag would have a baseline global warming
potential of 1.57 kg CO2 equivalent, falling to 1.4 kg CO2
if re-used once, the same as a paper bag used four times.
A cotton bag would need to be re-used 171 times to emit
a similar level, 1.57 kg Co2.
Indeed, plastics are an intrinsic part of everyday life today.
plastic products and work jointly with all stakeholders. It is difficult to imagine a school student carrying water
AIPMA is ready to provide all technical support in plastic in a glass bottle or buying milk through any other mode
waste management. Currently in India, about 90% of PET except plastic pouches. Plastic has helped in healthcare
bottles are recycled and the material is most recycled in too. Almost all saline waters come in plastic bottles,
the world. PET bottles are now used for water, cooking blood is transported in plastic pouches. From engine oils
oil, aerated drinks, Pharma, and various other packaging. to agarbattis, it is plastics that are used in packaging.
Plastic bags are used for zip-lock bags, milk packaging, The cell phones, the computers, pens, credit cards, etc are
ghee, atta, cereals, bread, various other food packaging made of plastics. These days, the safest water to consume,
which need long shelf life. Most of the medicines, both OTC when out of home, will be water in plastic bottles.

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