Page 15 - Plastics News July 2025
P. 15
AIPMA AT WORK
CEO ROUNDTABLE CONFERENCE
Moderated by Mr. S.K. Ray and chaired by Shri Deepak Mishra and Shri Satyendra Kumar (Director,
NITI Aayog), the roundtable witnessed the participation of over 200 stakeholders from across the
plastic value chain, including brand owners, recyclers, government bodies, industry leaders, and tech-
nology providers.
The discussions were highly engaging and outcome-oriented, focusing on key bottlenecks and re-
forms needed to accelerate India’s recycling ecosystem:
♦ Pricing of Recyclates: Participants highlighted that recycled plastic continues to be more expen-
sive than virgin plastic, discouraging large-scale adoption. Recommendations included incentiviz-
ing use of recyclates through policy support and preferential procurement.
♦ Industry Recognition for Recyclers: There was strong consensus on granting official “indus-
try status” to recyclers. This would improve access to financing, infrastructure, and government
schemes.
♦ Product Design for Recyclability: Brand owners were urged to transition toward mono-polymer
packaging and design for ease of sorting and recycling. Emphasis was placed on harmonizing
product standards with recycling efficiency.
♦ Inclusion of Informal Sector: Delegates stressed the need to formalize the informal sector, par-
ticularly waste pickers, by providing ergonomic tools, protective gear, and legal safeguards for
dignity of labor.
♦ Policy Simplification and EPR Reforms: Discussions also revolved around streamlining EPR guide-
lines, ensuring better monitoring, and enabling real-time traceability of plastic waste.
♦ Technology Upgradation & Infrastructure: The panel discussed the importance of investing in
scalable recycling technologies and establishing regional recycling hubs to improve collection and
processing.
The CEO Roundtable concluded with a shared commitment from both industry and government to
develop a roadmap jointly for making India a global leader in plastic recycling practices.
July 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 15
