PLANET VS PLASTIC OR PLASTIC VS SUBSTITUTES?

The theme of Earth Day 2024 was Planet vs Plastic, but plastic industry stakeholders are armed with studies to find faults with its alternatives

- Naina Gautam

The Indian plastics industry is worth around Rs 5.1 lakh crore ($73 billion), according to NITI Aayog’s report Alternative Products and Technologies to Plastics and Their Applications. Plastic pollution causes concern among environmentalists and citizens because it is no secret that plastic products are responsible for environmental degradation.

However, in an era of concerns about climate change, many stakeholders in the plastic segment and independent experts believe that the world needs to revisit the debate around the environmental impact of plastic. The theme of Earth Day 2024, which falls on April 22 every year, has added fuel to this debate, given that its Planet vs Plastic focus this year has an unambiguous goal. Its organisers say, “EARTHDAY. ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.” 

The Earth Day website is full of data points and slogans that make plastic a definite villain. It pits activists, youth, educators, athletes, artists, scientists, non profits and scores of other social categories against plastic stakeholders.