Page 32 - Plastics News Issue June 2025

ENVIRONMENT NEWS

tal, and training. A more deliberate approach to ♦ Invest in recycling facilities and systems that
support women-led recycling units could double track materials to reduce losses.
the impact, economically and socially.
♦ Create demand for recycled products by
Traditional Practices, Contemporary Rele- encouraging public procurement and clear
vance eco-labels.

India’s villages offer practical lessons in circular
living. Food waste is composted or fed to ani-
mals. Packaging often relies on banana leaves,
clay pots, and cotton or jute bags. These low-
impact, biodegradable solutions have existed
for generations and are seeing a revival.

The ethos of “waste is wealth” is not new in In-
dia.

What is new is the opportunity to bring this
thinking into modern industry. With 350 million ♦ Provide training and support especially for
tonnes of agricultural waste generated annu- small businesses and informal workers so
ally, there's scope to produce over 18,000 MW they can adopt circular practices.
of power. Used oil from industries can be repro-
cessed, cutting import dependency. Even India’s ♦ Make data more transparent, including un-
growing solar infrastructure, which could pro- derstanding the full life cycle of materials, to
duce 600 kilotonnes of waste by 2030, can be- help policymakers and consumers make bet-
come a valuable recycling stream with the right ter decisions.
technology.
♦ Use new financial tools like green bonds or
Building the Circular Ecosystem blended finance to lower risks and help fund
circular projects.
A circular economy cannot grow from a few iso-
lated projects. It requires different groups, pro- With the potential to unlock $218 billion by 2030
ducers, regulators, recyclers, researchers, and and over USD 624 billion by 2050 through cir-
consumers, to work together with a shared goal. cularity, India can show the world how econom-
ic growth and environmental responsibility can
To build this kind of system, we need to focus on move together.
a few practical steps:
Source- https://www.indiatoday.in/
♦ Enforce existing rules more consistently and
improve coordination between state and
central agencies.

32 PLASTICS NEWS June 2025