Recasting Plastic Industry

A circular economy approach aims to reduce plastic waste, maximise the value of resources, and minimise the environmental impact

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SHALINI GOYAL BHALLA MD, International Council for Circular Economy

India is one of the world's top users of plastics, and the industry is anticipated to experience exponential growth in future. While plastics have many advantages, there is growing worry about how they affect the environment, particularly marine ecosystems. India faces a pressing challenge in managing plastic waste, with its growing population and consumption patterns contributing to significant environmental damage.

To address this issue and promote sustainable development, India must embrace circularity in plastics. A circular economy approach aims to reduce plastic waste, maximise the value of resources, and minimise the environmental impact. Circularity in plastics can play a significant part in reducing plastic consumption. Increasing recycling and reuse, and creating biodegradable substitutes are all part of the circular plastic economy.

To promote circularity in plastics, India can introduce new policies that can facilitate the transition. Use of biodegradable plastics and alternative materials such as paper, cloth, and glass are gaining traction. The production and sale of non-biodegradable plastics can be regulated, and incentives can be provided to encourage the use of biodegradable alternatives. Secondly, the introduction of a circular economy roadmap that outlines the targets and actions for transitioning towards circularity can create a framework for implementation. Thirdly, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) that mandates producers to take back and recycle the plastics they produce is helping to create a closed-loop system.