Page 44 - Plastics News January 2017
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FEATURES 10
INDIA 2017
International Plastics Exhibition & Conference
Where the future of plastic is...
JAN 2017
19 20 21 22 23 MUMBAI. INDIA
India will have 225 million metric tonnes of fly ash the achievement of sustainable development goals.
available for re-use by 2032. At present, there are 8.7 However, the transition is pegged with challenges: trade
million end of life vehicles, which will be 22 million by barriers in reverse logistic chains, consumer preferences,
2025. It is estimated that one sharing car on the road mis-labelling of re-manufactured goods and volatile
can take up to 20 privately owned vehicles off the road. material prices.
Incredible saving New skills, systems thinking and modelling to guide
behavioural changes among stakeholders would
Only one-fifth of 73 million tonnes of textiles consumed be required. Unless we put price on the negative
worldwide are recycled each year. According to Fashion externalities and change perceptions regarding the true
Revolution, every tonne of discarded textiles reused saves value of natural resources, achieving a circular economy
20 tonnes of CO2 and every 1,000 tonnes of used textiles state may be difficult.
collected creates seven full-time jobs and 15 indirect jobs.
A number of enabling conditions will help India transition
Circular thinking in the food industry can help reduce to a more regenerative and restorative economy. These
food waste and capture value in cascading bio-refineries. include financing, education, industry collaboration
India’s substantial organic waste streams can create platforms and true valuation of processes. India’s e-waste
business opportunities in cosmetics, livestock feed and rules and plastic waste management rules with focus
food additives. on extended producer responsibility will promote the
integration of environmental costs. Many industries in India
In consumer electronics, innovation can help keep have already adopted responsible internal practices such
devices alive longer. The repair and resale market has as lean systems and supplier engagement programmes.
a vital role to play. India’s legislation already places
responsibility on producers to make options available for Waste streams have to be documented and critical
consumers to return devices. Global ocean biodiversity points identified for capacity development and technical
is severely affected by pollution. According to Science re-alignment of the informal sector which contributes
Magazine, in India every year approximately 0.60 million positively towards growth. For example, because of the
tonnes of plastic waste goes into the oceans. Plastic tar presence of the informal sector, almost 60 per cent of
roads can serve as a readymade landfill for ubiquitous plastic is being recycled in India compared to a mere 6.5
urban trash such as shopping bags and foam packaging. per cent being recycled in the US. Special programmes to
There are more than 21,000 miles of plastic roads in empower stakeholders, especially women, in the waste
India. Every kilometre uses the equivalent of a million management and recycling business will help reinforce
plastic bags, saving around a tonne of asphalt and costing the social and professional appreciation of the informal
about 8 per cent less than a conventional road. sector. Including waste management in school curricula
and leveraging the interest of various stakeholders in
For greater traceability along the supply chain, policy conscripting will help achieve the objectives.
companies need to track their waste beyond company
boundaries. One global consumer giant is in the process of A vibrant circular economy will help businesses integrate
environmental remediation of damages inflicted 15 years life-cycle thinking and resource optimisationand change
ago while disposing of 5.3 tonnes of mercury-tainted the way they design, buy, make, sell, and collect
glass scrap. Correct labelling of product lifespan will their products; consumers will be more conscious of
help promote a repair culture and oblige manufacturers sustainability impacts and contribute to building a better
to share the recycling costs of products with planned working world.
obsolescence.
The writer is Kuwait market leader for EY’s Climate Change
The end benefits and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) practice.
Transitioning to a circular economy would bring economic, Courtesy The Hindu
environmental and social benefits and contribute towards
• January 2017 • Plastics News 44
