Page 9 - Plastics News September 2021

FRoM THE EDIToR'S PEN

An Attempt Towards 'Circular Economy'

India has joined in an international mission for contributing its share towards circular economy and
perhaps this could bring about new change in the Indian Plastics Industry. India has become the first
Asian Country to launch a plastics pact for as we have learnt , the pact aims to transform the use
of plastics across India, just as it has in the UK, Europe, the US, Canada, South Africa and Chile.

As per estimates, India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 40 per cent
is not collected; about half of all plastics produced in the country are used in packaging, most of
it is single use in nature. Commitments made under the pact aim to keep plastic packaging in the
economy and out of the natural environment. The statement mentioned 17 businesses including
major FMCG brands, manufacturers, retailers and recyclers have committed to the pact as founding
members, and nine have joined as supporting organisations.

Worldwide Fund for Nature India (WWF India) has partnered with the Confederation of Indian Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
Industry (CII) in an effort to build a circular system for plastics. The two organisations have launched
the India Plastics Pact, which aims to equip businesses, governments and the plastics value chain
to move towards a circular plastic economy by 2030.The pact is the first of its kind to be launched
by an Asian country and is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Waste and
Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the British High Commission in India.
Industry Experts are of the opinion that the Innovation, collaboration and voluntary commitments
contextualised for India and led by Indian companies will help the transition to a circular economy
for plastics. The Plastics Pact model offers this solution. The pact, like similar one, has time-bound
targets for reducing, innovating and re-imagining plastic packaging.

Targets to be achieved by 2030 include defining a list of unnecessary or problematic plastic packaging
and items and take measures to address them through redesign and innovation. About 100 per cent
of plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable, 50 per cent of plastic packaging to be effectively
recycled and 25 per cent average recycled content across all plastic packaging. The UK has been
India’s biggest European research partner, with £400 million of joint investment since 2008. It will
complement India’s other bold initiatives in the renewables sector and efforts to work in the area.

The pact is expected to provide a strong platform for Indian businesses to drive actionable, sustainable
solutions and accelerate the transition toward a circular economy. Hope this new development is
able to bring about the much needed constructive approach for the betterment of the domestic
industry at par with their counterparts abroad.

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 PLASTICS NEWS SEPTEMBER 2021