Skip to content
  • About
  • Partner with Us
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Indonesia
Primary Menu
  • Home
  • Latest
  • News
  • Brief
  • Interview
  • Opinion
  • Figure
  • Youth
  • SDGs
  • Topics
  • #LetterfromtheFounder
  • Featured
  • News

The Rough Patch of India’s Plastic Ban

Starting July 2022, certain single-use plastic products are illegal in India. However, the country is underprepared.
by Nazalea Kusuma July 27, 2022
woman in blue dress behind street vendors in delhi india

Photo by Alin Andersen on Unsplash

The world generates over 350 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. In the past decade, plastic has become the face of evil and pollution as climate change awareness increases. As a result, countries worldwide have slowly started managing plastic in their waste management systems, with varying degrees of success and impact. India’s recent ban on 19 single-use plastic products is under scrutiny.

India’s Plastic Ban

India is the second most populated country and the fourth largest plastic waste generator. According to UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the country produces 15 million tonnes of plastic annually. At most, only 25% of them are recycled.

Starting July 2022, the government prohibits the production, import, storage, sale, and use of 19 more single-use plastic products, bringing the total to 21. Items include straws, flags, cups, eating utensils, wrapping films, candy sticks, earbuds, bags with less than 75 microns, PVC banners with less than 100 microns, and others.

Special teams and control rooms will be set up to enforce this regulation. Violation will result in a five-year jail sentence or a fine of 100,000 rupees – or both – with variations depending on state governments.

“The municipalities may do with a Rs 5,000 fine for using SUP items. But we have really left it to them for effective implementation,” said an Environment Ministry official.

Hard on SMEs

Twenty days after the announcement, banned plastic products are still everywhere in Hyderabad, Delhi, and other cities. Apparently, street vendors and SMEs find it hard to transition due to a lack of budget, alternatives, and awareness.

“Such a massive transition is not going to be possible for small manufacturers and small vendors without support from the government and the plastics industry, nor without educating the public to change their behavior,” said Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh, program manager at the Centre for Science and Environment.

Industry Pushback

The plastic ban was first proposed in 2016. Then, in 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to abolish single-use plastics by the end of 2022. The government also notified businesses about the plastic ban one year before it started.

Yet, the industry is still underprepared. Big industry players such as The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), Parle Agro, Dabur, Amul, Coca-Cola, and others are asking for deferment or exemption.

Despite time to prepare, there hasn’t been enough investment in creating affordable, more sustainable alternatives. According to Praveen Aggarwal of Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons, Indian biodegradable plastic manufacturers can only meet up to 8% of national demand.

Better Future

There’s still much to do to stop plastic pollution. India plans to extend the ban to include thicker plastic bags by the end of 2022. Earlier this year, in March, nations around the world committed to a historic resolution to End Plastic Pollution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) in Nairobi. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic and will forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024.

Thank you for reading!
If you find this article insightful, subscribe to our Weekly Newsletter to stay up-to-date with sustainable development news and stories from multistakeholder communities in the Asia Pacific and beyond.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Nazalea Kusuma
Editor at Green Network | Website | + posts

Naz is the Manager for Editorial Asia at Green Network. She performs the role of Editor for Green Network Asia and Reviewer for Green Network ID.

  • Nazalea Kusuma
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/nazalea/
    The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
  • Nazalea Kusuma
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/nazalea/
    Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
  • Nazalea Kusuma
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/nazalea/
    Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
  • Nazalea Kusuma
    https://greennetwork.asia/author/nazalea/
    Dugongs & Friends: Abu Dhabi’s Marine and Coastal Restoration Efforts

Continue Reading

Previous: NEWater: Singapore’s Recycled Water
Next: Kyrgyzstan’s Plan for Mountain Sustainability

Related Stories

a crowd at a stadium concert The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
  • Featured
  • News

The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

by Nazalea Kusuma January 27, 2023
A Japanese giant salamander is lying on top of measuring tape Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen
  • Featured
  • News

Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen

by Kresentia Madina January 26, 2023
IKEA’s blue building with a sign that says “IKEA Home" How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
  • Featured
  • News

How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model

by Kresentia Madina January 25, 2023
greyscale photo of an empty class room Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
  • Featured
  • News

Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better

by Nazalea Kusuma January 24, 2023
a night sky full of stars over kazakhstan’s golden steppe the altyn dala Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
  • Featured
  • News

Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe

by Nazalea Kusuma January 20, 2023
a blue parking sign that reads “Blue badge holders only” indicating designated space for people with disabilities Creating Inclusive and Accessible Public Transportation for All
  • Featured
  • News

Creating Inclusive and Accessible Public Transportation for All

by Kresentia Madina January 20, 2023
  • Latest
  • Popular
  • Partner
  • a crowd at a stadium concert The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities
    • Featured
    • News

    The Potential and Power of K-pop Fandoms as Global Communities

  • A Japanese giant salamander is lying on top of measuring tape Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen
    • Featured
    • News

    Saving the Japanese Giant Salamander with Sustainable Daisen

  • IKEA’s blue building with a sign that says “IKEA Home" How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model
    • Featured
    • News

    How IKEA Plans to Transition to a Circular Business Model

  • greyscale photo of an empty class room Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better
    • Featured
    • News

    Lebanon’s Education Crisis Is Not Getting Better

  • a night sky full of stars over kazakhstan’s golden steppe the altyn dala Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe
    • Featured
    • News

    Reviving Kazakhstan’s Prehistoric Ecosystems, the Golden Steppe

  • The green landscape of Semakau Island in Singapore Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore
    • Featured
    • News

    Semakau Island, the Green Landfill in Singapore

  • Indonesian spices as cultural heritage Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News

    Enthusiasts Reclaim Spices’ Cultural Heritage, Launch Spice Hub Indonesia

  • illustration of National SDG tracker by Unescap UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker
    • Featured
    • News

    UNESCAP Supports “Build Back Better” with the National SDG Tracker

  • In frame: Beena Rao with the children | Image source: beenarao.com Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums
    • Figure

    Beena Rao and Her Fight for Education for the Children of the Slums

  • Customized water bottle by Muslimat NU Bojong | Image: Muslimat NU Bojong Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production
    • Featured
    • News

    Muslimat NU of Bojong-Tegal Campaigns Environmental Protection, Reduces Waste Production

  • green big containers, blue building, and large tube at Hamparan project site B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    B-Corp Certified Gree Energy’s Commitments for Food Industry Decarbonization

  • the TEPI Talks #4 event poster Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    Media Engagement Workshop for Sustainable Grassroots Movements by Women’s Earth Alliance Indonesia

  • Kecak Traditional Dance. | Photo by Aminoz Acid on Unsplash. Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    Bali Grows Arms for Stronger Economic Recovery

  • The illustration of Harm Reduction with the fundamental purpose of upholding the safety and dignity of all people. An Introduction to Harm Reduction
    • Brief
    • Featured
    • Partner

    An Introduction to Harm Reduction

  • A young adult from we day ugm and three elementary schoolers planting mangrove seed. Photo is taken from above and shows only their heads and backs. WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment
    • Featured
    • News
    • Partner

    WE Day UGM 2022: Raising Awareness on Climate Change and Encouraging Community Empowerment

About Us

  • About
  • The Team
  • Partner with Us
  • Sponsored Content
  • Contribute to Our Mission
  • Press Release Guidelines
  • Op-ed Guidelines
  • Advisory Network
  • Youth Advisory Network
  • Author Network
  • FAQ
  • Work with Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Telegram
  • Etsy
  • Tokopedia
  • Media Link 11
  • Media Link 12
  • Media Link 13
  • Media Link 14
  • Media Link 15
© 2023 Green Network Asia