With the Government of India’s single-use plastic ban scheduled to come into force on 1st July 2022, the search for green easy-open packaging that balances sustainability with performance intensifies.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is moving ahead with the ban which was first proposed in 2021, keeping in mind the environmental impact of single-use plastic. The measure forces the packaging industry to adapt by integrating more sustainable alternatives to oil-derived plastics, including post-consumer recycled plastic or paper-based materials. Easy-open tape manufacturers must also innovate in line with these requirements.
There is an array of promising alternatives to plastic that will help progress the industry towards the goal of fully circular solutions, according to Ian Beresford, Head of Marketing and Development at leading tapes manufacturer Essentra Tapes. Discussing the ban, he said, “While plastic reduction laws such as these are beneficial in the long term, they do pose some short-term challenges for the whole packaging industry. In particular, they demand innovative thinking from sectors that rely on plastic film overwrap, such as the tobacco industry. “We have already developed SupaStrip PCR, a 70% post-consumer recycled plastic tape for flexible packaging. And we are seeing promising results on compostable alternatives,”
40% – around 10,000 tonnes – of plastic waste in India remains uncollected, according to the Foundation for Campaign Against Plastic Pollution. While the single-use plastic ban has been welcomed by environmental campaigners, there is broad agreement that more action is needed. It is expected that the government will announce more initiatives and regulations to promote alternatives to single-use plastic in future.