Government bans single-use plastic; how are startups rising to the occasion?

Mumbai: The ban on single-use plastics came into effect on the 1st of July across the country as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

The ban is effective on manufacturing, importing, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of identified single-use plastic items. This includes earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, and ice cream sticks, plastic plates, plastic cups and glasses, and plastic cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping/packing film), plastic invitation cards, cigarette packets as also plastic/PVC banners less than 100 microns.

WHAT IS SINGLE-USE PLASTIC?

Plastic items that are used once and discarded. Single-Use Plastic is used for the packaging of items including shampoo, detergents, cosmetics, food, etc.

In the Green Warriors segment of #StartUpCentral, under the spotlight was Bambrew a Green Tech sustainable packaging development company that strives to provide alternatives to single-use plastic which is sustainable and pose no threat to the environment.

In an exclusive conversation with ET NOW Vaibhav Anant, Founder & CEO of Bambrew spoke about how the company is riding the green trend and giving more insight into the plastic vs paper debate. He says, " High crude prices result in increased plasticware prices. The price of plastic has gone up from Rs. 60/kg to Rs. 130/kg. By 2022 December, the government is coming up with a norm to use 120 microns of plastic. In the new framework, paper will be cheaper than plastic. No brainer to switch to a more sustainable alternative of plastic. The cost of plastic will be higher than paper that Bambrew is making."

The alternative product for plastic straws would be Sip Cup Lids, Paper Straws, Bamboo Straws, PLA Straws, Metal Straws, Glass Straws, Silicone Straws, Reusable Plastic Straws

Talking about other companies complying with the new norm & joining this wave of sustainability by partnering with Bambrew Vaibhav added, " “Have seen a lot of growth and interest due to this ban from a lot of D2C & FMCG brands. We have been fortunate enough to work with some of the biggest giants across the globe like Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Nykaa, Big Basket, Bewakoof, Zepto, Dunzo & D2C brands like Purplle, Smitten, etc. We cater to more than 50+ brands across categories.”

WHY THE NEED TO BAN SINGLE-USE PLASTIC?

Single-Use Plastic accounts for a 3rd of all plastic produced globally. 98% of Single-Use Plastic is manufactured from fossil fuels. Single-Use Plastic accounts for the majority of discarded plastic- 130 MMT globally in 2019. All discarded plastic is burned, buried in landfills, or discarded directly into the environment. Single-Use Plastic could account for 5-10% of GHG emissions by 2050. India's net annual generation of Single Use Plastic waste is 5.6 MMT