Manufacturers may opt for making compostable material

Manufacturers may opt for making compostable material

PUNE: Plastic manufacturers in the State are now seriously considering to switch to making of compostable packaging materials. 

Two units located in industrial area of Mumbai and in the union territory of Diu-Daman shared that their trial run for making compostable packaging material was successful. 

The other manufactures shared that if the raw material cost is reduced more players are likely to join the bandwagon. 

Dinesh Sanghavi, director of True Green, said, “Once the ban on plastic will comes into force, the plastic manufacturers will be forced to convert their business into manufacturing of compostable packaging materials. The higher  rates of these bags will gradually decrease. as the demand will go up. The production cost of each compostable bag is Rs 3 while the production cost of each plastic bag is rs 1. The rate of sale of of each compostable bag and plastic is Rs 5 to 10 and Rs 2 to 5 respectively.”

The plastic manufacturers who have shut their business are now considering to convert their manufacturing units into compostable packaging materials. Easy pack, plastic manufacturer of Daman has given a trail of making compostable garbage liner, as the same machine which manufactures plastic can be used to manufacture compostable bag as well. Paras Shah, owner of Easy Pack, said, “It has been over a month that the company is shut and our  business is affected due to this ban.”

Ravi Jashnani President of Maharashtra Plastic Manufacturing Association told Sakal Times, that, compared to the quantity of sale of plastic bag all over India, there is huge sale in quantity of nursery bags and garbage liners. 

He said, “As the manufacturing units are shut for over a month, Many of us are thinking to shift into manufacturing of compostable packaging material. As the garbage liners and nursery bags have always been in huge demand, and if the same machinery could make compostable bags, then why not shift into manufacturing it.”

Shah added, “The products are sold at higher price so currently there is not much demand in the market. Currently corporates are buying the compostable garbage liners out of compulsion but there is no resolve among the people to buy these product.”

MANUFACTURERS, EMPLOYEES AFFECTED
- 2,500 plastic manufacturers 
- 8,000 stores that sell plastic bags
- Indirect employment in the plastic industry around 25 lakh.
- In Pune manufacturing units are located in , Kondhwa,  PCMC, Hinjewadi, Shindewadi, Chakan, Rajgurunagar.
- This ban is affecting  56,000 employees and 20  lakh people involved indirectly dependent on this industry 

ALTERNATIVES REQUIRED
- Plastic bag or plastic used for packaging of medicine are exempted from this ban.
- Only compostable plastic bags or material used for plant nurseries, horticulture, agriculture, handling solid waste are not banned.

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com