Ecommerce Cos Working Closely With Govt On Single-Use Plastic Ban

With only just two days left to go ahead with the single-use plastic (SUP) ban rule, companies across sectors including ecommerce are cooperating with the government for effective implementation. Moreover, many of those companies are already prepared for timely implementation, as per an IANS report.

Considerably, single-use plastic items will not be allowed in the country from July 1, 2022. The list of 14 prohibited single-use plastic items include earbuds with plastic sticks, wrapping or packaging films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 microns and stirrers, among others.

The notification to ban SUP was first issued in August 2021. Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said that the government allowed ample time from last year for the producers to migrate to new machines, as well as for the industry to look for alternatives, news agency IANS reported.

“On the other hand, we have also enabled production of alternatives through the Micro, Small & Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME) sector. Plus, we have a plan laid out for 10 years, a first for itself,” he said as quoted in the report.

As the majority of the companies are on board already, the government is not considering any deadline extension. Earlier this month, the central pollution control board (CPCB) also issued directions to ecommerce companies for phasing out identified SUP items.

The CPCB also held a meeting with ecommerce companies earlier this year, followed by another one last year, Tanmay Kumar, chairperson of CPCB noted. CPCB has been in touch with them constantly.

According to Kumar, none of the ecommerce companies have sought further time for the implementation and not all are resisting.

It must be noted that the Indian ecommerce packaging segment, which was estimated at $451.4 Mn in 2019, is expected to reach $ 975.4 Mn by 2025 at 13.8% annually, according to a report by Indian Brand Equity Foundation.

Globally, the ecommerce industry contributes to plastic packaging and plastic packaging waste significantly. The industry used approximately 2.1 Bn pounds of plastic packaging in 2019 and it is projected to reach 4.5 Bn pounds by 2025, as per a report from Staistia.