Page 21 - Plastics News May 2024

AMTEC AT WORK
AIPMA AT WORK

To train CSR students, we have support of our 4 trainers along with 4 staff members for this special Sunday Batch. This
project will help them and their families to come out of financial backwardness and they can look for bright future.

AIPMA member M/S Kapsun Resources is donating Injection Molding Machine
as complimentary to L & T Public Charitable Trust (LTPCT) at Navsari to support
training & Upskilling of Floor Level workers as operators.

This will immensely benefit our members to source skilled manpower having
manufacturing facilities in the region Vapi, Daman, Silvassa, Navsari & Surat.

Sustainable Polymer Solutions for Food Security by Covestro
In the vast agricultural landscape of India, small and marginal farmers are the unsung heroes who feed the nation. Yet, they
face a persistent challenge that undermines their hard work: post-harvest losses. A significant portion of their produce,
especially fruits and vegetables, never reaches the consumers. Estimates suggest that up to 25% of the harvest is lost
due to inadequate storage and preservation techniques, leading to a substantial economic loss and carbon footprint from
decomposing produce.

Covestro, a hi-tech polymer raw material manufacturing company, is addressing these challenges with innovative polymer-
based solutions such as the Polycarbonate based Solar dryer, Polyurethane based solar cold stores, and Phase change
material equipped portable cold boxes, that help farmers to manage their post-harvest losses efficiently.

For example, through The Solar Green House Dryer, farmers can dehydrate their excess produce using solar energy and
convert them to dehydrated fruit candies, keeping its nutritional value, natural color, aroma, and texture preserved. The im-
pact is profound – Apart from near elimination of post-harvest losses for those who adapt such techniques, an opportunity
to more than double the revenue through sale of dehydrated products is wide open.
The unpredictable market demand-supply often distresses our farmers. By using Solar Cold Storages installed at farm
gate, farmers can store perishable goods for extended periods. This empowers our farmers to sell their produce at better
prices when the demand peaks, securing their rightful earnings.
For last mile transportation, maintaining the temperature is essential to ensure quality of the produce. Our portable cold
boxes make sure that perishable goods like fish remain clean, fresh, and safe during transportation, surpassing the per-
formance of traditional thermocol ice boxes and thereby the final leg of the cold chain remains unbroken, delivering fresh
superior product right to the consumer's doorstep.

Recognizing that digitalization is essential for a broader reach, Covestro has launched a Food Security platform that serves
as a bridge for farmers, connecting them with vital resources. It offers them access to climate-smart advanced technolo-
gies, market linkages, financial support, and information on government subsidies. The platform is designed to be more
than just a tool; it's a community space where farmers can share their experiences, learn from one another, and build
connections.

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