Page 28 - Plastics News March 2018

FeAtures

Rajendra Jagdale, STP Director- Chinchwad, welcomed the move and said it would lend
General, said, “Being bio- greater support for utility items. “It’s definitely a positive
degradable in nature, starch bags step as it will boost efforts towards bio degradable bags,
can be an alternative to plastic containers and other materials that are environment-
utility bags. These bags can take friendly ones,” he said.
weight up to 30 kilograms without He, however, has a word of caution. “While a ban on
experiencing any stretching or the plastic has been imposed, the challenge ahead lies in
possibility of tearing apart unlike providing appropriate alternative materials that will
polythene bags.”
perform the function as efficiently as plastic. On the cost
Jagdale said starch from all food were suitable for of starch bags, Jagdale said they would be similarly priced
manufacturing these bags but added that his team was as plastic bags available commercially. “Since starch is
in talks with companies in Pune mainly for starch from available in plenty, these bags will cost between Rs 120
potato and maize, both of which are sufficiently available and Rs 130 per kilogram, similar to that of commercial
in India. “With this, we will also be able to address some plastic materials,” he said. STP is in talks with companies
issues of farmers, who can supply the starch,” he said. with which it plans to set up manufacturing units
“Since these bags are water soluble, they can best be estimated to cost Rs 8 crore. Up to 70 tonnes of starch
used to store or package dry products.” bags would be manufactured in each of these units

Vitthal Kate, corporator from Pimple Saudagar in Pimpri- Hope there comes a solution at the earliest.

PVI 2017 bags the Exhibitions Excellence Awards-2018
(details in next issue)

Plastics News March 2018 28