Page 7 - Plastics News July 2018

THE PRESIDENT SAYS SAYS
THE PRESIDENT

The Challenges Ahead

The plastic industry is undoubtedly going through turbulent times. The aftermath of Plastic
Ban in Maharashtra does not seem to be settling down. Large number of processors’ are
worried about their future as they cope with ad-hoc closure notices issued by incompetent
implementing authorities while they wait for clarity from administration. The situation is
not getting any better as more states have declared their intention to ban carry bags and
disposables. If the rhetoric on the subject from authorities is any indication, I see emerging
challenges across India for the segment. Maharashtra Ban is taken as a bench mark by other
states and hence what happens in Maharashtra will have far reaching consequences.
As a head of the apex trade body, I have been closely witnessing the scenario from perspective
of policy makers, media, fellow industry members and common man. The experience has
been painful and unsettling at best. One wonders if we are inching towards the objective
of containing plastic pollution or the Ban in reality is a solution in search of new problems
for stake holders across the value chain.
Industry’s failure to address the eye sore plastic pollution all around us arising out of mainly HITEN BHEDA
thin bags resulted into anti plastic sentiments that turned into tsunami. It was further
fuelled by free flowing clippings and unsubstantiated media reports depicting plastic as sin
products. Industry’s counter efforts to create awareness that plastic actually serves but
littering pollutes was too little and too late to make a difference. It fell short to save us
from tsunami. Vested Interest lobbies and NGO’s used this opportunity with help of iconic
personalities to serve their own purpose while industry became helpless spectator.
In spite of the fact that Plastic packaging fulfills expectation of consumer convenience,
Health safety, food-safety and over all environment impact, the expectation of environment
cleanliness affected by littering of post consumption is winning the race. This however
cannot happen without logical efforts and creation of infrastructure, an aspect falling under
Civic authorities’ domain. Largely ignored for decades now and continues to be so. The
presence of the latter should be the first step towards any solution to the problem at hand.
Instead, the decisions to solve the problem are focusing on other extreme of suppressing
consumption by killing the product. This is contrary to aspirations of the society racing
to climb the ladder of economic development. If it is not plastic, something else will
be required for fulfilling the consumption and if allowed to do so without understanding
Environment Impact Assessment, we will end up in a bigger mess. Why then single out
PLASTIC. Shouldn’t we, the Industry be asking this question in one voice?
I find it extremely concerning that Industry under economic stress and with a desire to see
it’s cash registers ringing is willing to embrace unrealistic models to come out from the
crisis. There will be implications of implementation. It is our duty to discuss debate and
deliberate to ensure that large fraternity of our small and medium enterprise members
spring back to sustainable health and are not forced into vortex of extinction.
The industry is full of brilliant people and on behalf of AIPMA welcome their suggestions
towards our long term well being.

Hiten Bheda
president@aipma.net

7 July 2018 Plastics News