Single-Use Plastic Ban Is Here: Is It Enough? | India Development Debate

The ban on single-use plastics came into effect on the 1st 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 and includes ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks and ice cream sticks, plastic plates, plastic cups and glasses, plastic cutlery (forks, spoons, knives, straws, trays, wrapping/packing film), plastic invitation cards, cigarette packets as also plastic/PVC banners less than 100 micron. While a number of industry players initially opposed the ban citing cost issues of plastic alternatives, most have now announced that they will comply with the ban and use imported paper packaging despite the high costs. Is the plastic ban enough? What are the viable plastic alternatives? Is enough being done to look for alternatives? We discuss on the India Development Debate with Siddharth G. Singh, Programme Manager, CSE, Pavan Kumar Singh, GM - Marketing, Amul and Jayesh Rambhia, Co-Chairman, Environment Committee, AIPMA. Tune in!