Page 31 - Plastics News Issue June 2025
P. 31
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
What appears to be a burden, waste, could ac- Industry at the Forefront
tually become a productive stream of materials,
income, and jobs. If addressed with urgency and Indian businesses are beginning to reimagine
clarity, India can emerge as a global leader in waste as a value chain input rather than a dis-
circular economy practices. The scale of waste, posal challenge. The India Plastics Pact is one
whether plastic, e-waste, tyres, construction de- such initiative where businesses have come to-
bris, or solar panels, is not a liability but a poten- gether with civil society and regulators to rede-
tial stream of raw material, value creation, and sign plastic packaging and eliminate materials
jobs. that cannot be reused or recycled.
The government has laid a strong foundation by Beyond plastics, the private sector is finding val-
setting up a dedicated Circular Economy Cell in ue in what was earlier discarded. India’s metal
NITI Aayog and finalizing action plans for 10 ma- scrap recycling industry was valued at about
jor waste categories. At the same time, states, USD 11 billion in 2023 as per PwC. By 2025, there
industries, and communities are showing prom- could be around 22.5 million end-of-life vehicles
ising intent through public-private collaborations (ELVs), which could provide 5 million tonnes of
and decentralized innovations. steel scrap and over 1 million tonnes of aluminum
and copper. If we have proper sorting and recov-
Policy Backing and Strategic Focus ery systems, this waste can be reused in manu-
facturing, easing pressure on natural resources
India’s steps toward a circular economy are and lowering emissions.
shaped by a robust policy framework. Action
plans supported by Extended Producer Respon- Women and the Informal Sector
sibility (EPR), eco-labelling rules, and bans on
select single-use plastics signal a deeper insti- Much of India’s recycling work is powered by
tutional commitment to reducing resource de- informal workers, many of whom are women.
pendency and improving recycling. Women’s cooperatives, especially in states like
Kerala, have set up efficient systems for house-
The 2016 Plastic Waste Management Rules, the hold-level plastic collection and segregation.
revised e-Waste Management Rules, and spe-
cific EPR targets are helping bring accountability These initiatives do not just improve recycling
to producers and importers. rates; they create stable jobs and drive local
change.
Mission LiFE and Eco-Mark initiatives are rein-
forcing market demand for sustainable alterna- However, many of these roles remain informal,
tives. underpaid, and unsupported. To unlock their full
potential, their work needs to be brought into
But regulations alone are not enough. The suc- the formal system through skilling, social secu-
cess of these policies depends on effective en- rity, and access to finance.
forcement, clarity across jurisdictions, and regu-
lar updates that respond to technological and Additionally, women entrepreneurs are stepping
market changes. into plastic recycling businesses but face barri-
ers such as limited access to technology, capi-
June 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 31
