Page 7 - Plastics News May 2019

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T THE PRESIDENT
THE PRESIDENT SAYSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SAYS

A long run to go..

arth is considered to be the young planet in the Solar system. Earth is the only planet
Eas on date with living species in our Solar System. The evaluation of human and their
dominance on the earth is remarkable and a new era on the earth. Invention of Locomotive
Engine triggered the development on the earth and the exploration of fossil fuels gave a boost
to the development. Humans conquered new heights with their knowledge and exploring not
only our Solar System but also trying to explore the universe.
Our environment or eco system is most important for us. The development what we see has
certain negative effects on the on the environment due to our own mismanagement of the
valuable resources. The environment is most precious and valuable, and we have to preserve it
to handover to the next generations. But what we are doing? Preservation of the Environment
is not somebody job. Every person and individual are responsible for it. Responsibility and
accountability has to be there for everyone. It cannot be limited to an individual or an entity.
Now a days, Plastics are the most blamed products as environmental hazardous. In fact they
are the most environmental friendly products. Imagine our day to day life without plastics
for a population of 7.7 Billion people as against the population of around 1 billion about MEELA JAYADEV
100 years back. The requirements has multiplied, new avenues arose against the available
resources. The burden on environment will be more for the increased requirements to meet
the new fast life of this 7.7 billion people, if we depend on the conventional metal, wood
and mud based products. Plastics made life easy and helping the environment to protect and
pass on to the next generations. Yes, everyone agree with the problem of certain segment
of Plastic products and their harm to the ecology, but who is the culprit, the product or our
littering habits?
Banning of any product will not give the desired results. Instead of banning Plastic products
popularise the wise usage of those product and its proper disposal system. Individuals has to
feel the responsibility and the administration has to provide the proper integrated system
with the support from the industry.
Government of India has introduced EPR (Extended Producers Responsibility) rules for the
packaged items. In my opinion theoretically it is a good initiative, but practically how far
it can be implemented and managed. Are we really ready with infrastructure, mechanism
and methodology to implement these rules? Have we studied the economic impact of these
rules on MSME Sector? Are we going to restrict the markets in the name of EPR rules to large
corporates who have well established Supply Chain system, which they utilise to implement
the EPR Rules? If so, what about the SME sector? A detailed study on these points need to be
thoroughly analysed and discussed with the industry.
Administration has to introduce stringent product norms and the producers and the intermediate
suppliers of those products must follow the norms, failing which stringent action has to be
initiated against the producers and intermediate suppliers. Further the administration has
to take decisive steps in promoting waste segregation at point of disposal, processing of the
recyclable waste and new uses for the recycled materials.
Above all we, humans feel the responsibility for our planet and use the product wisely and
dispose the product after use cautiously. If we do not change our littering habits, no rules and
regulations will change the present situation and even it will be further worsen.
This is our planet and it is our individual responsibility to protect our planet and pass on the
good environment to our next generations.
Meela Jayadev
president@aipma.net

7 M a y 2 01 9 Plastics News