Plastic is a valuable resource; however, we neither seem to appreciate its worth nor handle it well. Most people have limited knowledge of managing plastic waste.

By Angelo George

India is a thrifty society that cares for and conserves resources. As a society, we reuse and recycle most items of everyday use – from old newspapers to clothes and toys and transform them into multipurpose items. However, we don’t seem to consider plastic which has become an integral part of our lives, as a valuable resource to be conserved. The reason possibly is that we have limited knowledge about the material called plastic and its benefits. This has also got to do with the misinformation around plastics and how they are reused and upcycled. It is time to bust the myth about plastic being considered evil and consider it an asset that can be utilised and recycled responsibly.

Brief History of Plastic

The invention of plastic happened in the mid-1800s. It’s known for its durability, flexibility, lower costs and lightweight properties. The diverse polymers are adapted to make various products used in our everyday lives. This starts from waking up in the morning to the buzzing alarm of a smartphone in a plastic case, switching on lights from a plastic switchboard, brushing teeth with a plastic toothbrush, to packing lunch in a plastic container and so on. Thus, consumers have adopted different types of plastics for ease and convenience.

Many innovations in plastic have taken place in the twentieth century, with new types of polymers, and its success is a testament to its versatility. The invention of polyethylene in 1933 was an important milestone. Today, some of the most used plastics are polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. For example, it is used in apparel, footwear and as packaging material for food, drinks and other consumer goods.

Packaging is an integral component of the food industry that prevents deterioration and prolongs the shelf life of products. The packaging material protects against physical, chemical, and biological damage. It keeps contaminants away, providing barriers against moisture-vapour and oxygen transmission to sustain freshness throughout the movement in the supply chain. Therefore, food manufacturers use various packaging materials appropriate to the category to ensure food safety.

Materials used for packaging foods range from metals, glass, paper, and plastic to preserve taste and prevent spoilage. However, due to its adaptability, plastic replaced conventional materials like metal, wood, and glass. Lower costs, greater flexibility, ease of manufacturing, and better performance contributed to the surge in the use of plastic. Besides, the CO₂ emissions of spoiled food are higher than the carbon footprints of the plastic film that could be used to prevent spoilage.

PET – A Revolution in Packaging

The most used form of plastic is polyethylene terephthalate, used in manufacturing PET bottles, which was introduced in the 1970s. The lightweight, durable and non-toxic properties of PET bottles make them convenient and provide better safety to consumers.

As a country, we have an acute water shortage in many areas, compounded by the substandard quality of groundwater in more than 50% of districts. As per the National sample survey, only 47% of urban households in India have individual water connections. Therefore, there is a need for safe drinking water that is affordable to all segments of the population.

Industry and global reports have shown PET as the most preferred packaging in bottled water. Further, a study by CFTRI in 2019 has conclusively established that PET is safe and does not leach any harmful chemicals into the contents. Also, it is environment-friendly, allowing it to be recycled into new products and reducing manufacturing costs. Today, PET is the most widely used packaging material for mineral water, soft drinks, ketchup, pickles, among many others.

Still, many are convinced that an alternative to plastic is always better – in the form of reusable containers of glass or metals. However, if reusable containers aren’t appropriately sterilised, micro-organisms will grow in the moist parts of the container, making it unhealthy and unsafe. Hence, Indian regulatory bodies like BIS and FSSAI stipulate that water be packed in PET bottles.

Interestingly, more than 90% of PET in India is recycled into higher-value products. India has 4.5Mn ragpickers who collect recyclable plastic and 1Mn kabadiwalas who buy the plastic from these recyclers. It provides the ragpickers with the highest value of income, earning Rs. 15 per kg compared to other types of plastics, which are far lower. Also, most of us preserve old newspapers that fetch around Rs 8 per kg but discard PET bottles without a blink of an eye. The estimated value of the recycled PET bottles market in India was US$ 320.72Mn in 2020 and is expected to reach US$ 556.8Mn by 2027.

Building a Circular Economy

Plastic is a valuable resource; however, we neither seem to appreciate its worth nor handle it well. Most people have limited knowledge of managing plastic waste. According to the 2019-20 report of The Central Pollution Control Board, India recycles around 60% of plastic waste. The remaining 40% ends up in landfills, on the streets and clogging water bodies. It is irresponsible human behaviour to dispose of used plastic, causing it to be dumped in landfills, which enter the rivers and the ocean. Research shows that over 80% of littering is intentional and performed by humans.

Hence, proper handling, recycling and upcycling of used plastic is the need of the hour. Recycling takes 88% less energy than making new plastic from raw materials, reducing fossil fuel consumption. Upcycling is a form of recycling that creates something even more valuable. The environmental benefits of upcycling are huge. The PET bottles can be used with natural or synthetic fibres to create apparel, shoes and other items of higher value. There are over 33,000 recycling units in India that make items from recycled plastics, like yarns, plastic chairs, T-shirts, and bags. Thus, the upcycled plastic helps in reducing the strain on natural resources.

Segregating plastic and other waste material is a crucial step in the waste management process, enabling efficient Reuse, Recycling, and Recovery (RRR). It helps build a circular economy, and to do so, people need to adopt three key actions: clean the plastic, segregate it at the source and hand it over directly for recycling. This will ensure the used plastic doesn’t end up in the landfill.

To ensure the proper disposal and recycling of plastic, Bisleri International launched the ‘Bottles for Change’ initiative. The model aims to create awareness among people to treat used plastic as a valuable resource that can be recycled by responsibly disposing of used plastic and preventing it from getting to dump yards. The program educates people to clean and segregate the plastic and provides enabling mechanisms to sell it directly to local kabadiwalas, who will, in turn, sell it to the recyclers. The entire chain generates more value by using cleaner used plastic to produce items such as fabric, handbags, window blinds and public benches. The program is operational in 7 cities and has covered an active population of 6 lac active participants.

Thus, upcycling has become a crucial aspect of building a sustainable economy. It has become a greener way of dealing with used plastic, largely becoming a valuable resource for raw materials. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), a circular economy will generate 24Mn jobs globally by 2030, mainly for waste management. Thus, it is essential to embrace a circular economy. Encourage upcycling and minimising waste, making the most of this valuable resource called plastic!

About the Author

Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd

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