Ashwin Agarwal: Literacy is the key to change consumer habit

Is there a Green Gap?

There is certainly a green gap. Plastic is a common man’s product. It is crucial to comprehend that plastic is clearly not the issue; its usage and disposal is. Consumer habits will have to change, for which, literacy is the key.

Also, there have been many discussions around the use of compostable packaging material, commonly referred to as bioplastics. However, in my opinion, these may not be a viable option for India as compostable packaging is way too expensive and not feasible in today’s context, especially for an economy like ours, considering our per-capita income. Thus, I believe a continued focus on recycling is the future. If we remain focused on recycling activities and look at incentivising it, success is bound to come.

One simple action plan for India 

Multi-layer plastic (MLP) waste is a big challenge for the industry. Also, we need to increase the usage of recyclable materials. Thus, we need to identify the MLP packages using virgin materials, which can be shifted to recyclable alternatives, making it a mandate. To ensure a reasonable approach, the manufacturers of these products should be given, let’s say, at least a five-year window to address and adapt to the change.