The ban on single-use plastic which was recently announced by the govt of Uttar Pradesh is pushing down the plastic manufacturing market. Lack of proper guideless provided by the government is another factor that is misleading and affecting the factory owners.
The online retail major Flipkart had also announced its plan to stop product packaging using disposable or single-use plastic in August. The company is already trying to execute its plans to use 100% recycled plastic in its supply chain.
Various initiatives by the company have already reduced 25 percent usage of plastic.
Flipkart is actively working to introduce eco-friendly paper shreds to replace polythene bags with recycled paper bags and to replace bubble wraps with carton waste shredded material and others.
Flipkart has filed for EPR (Extended producer responsibility) and is targeting 30 percent collection back in the first year, to begin with. The company will take more measures and plans to cut the usage of plastic.
Kalyan Krishnamurthy, Group CEO, Flipkart said, "Creating alternatives for single-use plastic packaging is one of the significant steps we have taken towards fulfilling our commitment to creating a sustainable ecosystem. Our long-term vision is to eliminate the use of plastic and maximize the use of recycled and renewable materials." Similarly, the usage of plastic is reduced by much company which is largely affecting the people whose lively hood depends on plastic.
According to Harish Israni, president of Uttar Pradesh Plastic Welfare Association said that there is a lot of confusion in the guidelines and they need clarity on what category does single-use plastic fall under. “We have stopped production in our factories and there is also no demand from wholesalers and buyers. The plastics industry has already suffered a loss of more than INR 250Cr since July last year. More than 50,000 workers have lost regular employment.” Exclaimed Harish
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