Comm Min asks e-commerce firms to cut single-use plastic in packaging

commerce and industry ministry has vised e-commerce companies to grually slash single-use plastic in packaging of products being sold through ir platforms, in line with government's commitment to reduce use of such material, an official said. companies have also been vised by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Tre (DPIIT) to develop sustainable packaging material which will contribute to reducing India's plastic footprint globally.

E-commerce companies have been asked for discarding plastic used in packaging, which accounts for more than 40 per cent of n-fibre plastic, according to official.

"With an earnest ambition to stop consumption of single use plastic, se companies are being vised to consider grually curtailing use of single-use plastic in packaging products being sold through ir e-commerce platform," official said.

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When asked about issue, Amazon spokesperson said company is committed to a sustainable supply chain that levers techlogy to build solutions that optimise use of packaging material, reduce waste and create eco-friendly packaging.

"We have been relentlessly working on reducing single-use plastic in our supply chain. Today, less than 7 per cent of our packaging material consists of single use plastic and we are working towards eliminating us of m completely in our buildings in India by June 2020," spokesperson said. Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart, said that some of focus areas for company is us of electric vehicles in logistics, waste manment and efficient packaging, including reduction of single use plastic.

"Earlier this year, we anunced and outlined our vision of eliminating single-use plastic in our packaging by March 2021...As of 1st August, we have alrey achieved a 25 per cent reduction in us of single-use plastics through various initiatives across our packaging value chain, and we are aggressively moving towards 100 per cent recycled plastic consumption in our supply chain by March 2021," he said.

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Creating alternatives for single-use plastic packaging is one of significant steps we have taken towards fulfilling our commitment to creating a sustainable ecosystem, he ded. direction by DPIIT assumes significance as government is taking steps to cut down consumption of single-use plastic. DPIIT is taking and planning series of such steps under Plastic Waste Free-Swachhata Hi Seva Campaign - 2019.

It has also asked cement plants to recycle plastic waste. Letters has been sent to chief secretaries of states regarding collection of plastic waste at industrial parks in ir states/UTs for collection of plastic waste across ir respective areas and to focus on plastic waste manment on a sustained and contius basis.

A communication has also been sent to CEOs/hes of 57 industrial estates under DPIIT to participate in this campaign, ensure collection and transportation of collected plastic waste to nearest designated urban local bodies.

Similarly, industry and trers associations have been asked to sensitise all ir members to participate in campaign and to make India free from single use plastic.

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