The Indian government’s recent decision to not ban certain types of single-use plastic is considered a setback in efforts to combat pollution.
However, even as the government held back, multiple companies in India, including e-commerce giants Flipkart and Amazon India, have pledged to reduce or eliminate their use of single-use plastics.
Corporate Initiatives
Let’s have a look at some companies in the country and their efforts toward achieving a plastic-free nation.
Flipkart
Flipkart has stated that it achieved a 25% reduction in single-use plastic usage as of August 2019 and aims to move towards using entirely recycled plastic in its supply chain by 2021. Flipkart is also incorporating electric vehicles into its last-mile delivery network.
Amazon India
Amazon India is even more ambitious as they plan to completely eliminate single-use plastics in packaging by next year. They have started to introduce eco-friendly packaging materials like ‘paper cushions’ to replace traditional bubble wrap and plastic fillers.
Westlife Development
The operator of McDonald’s in some regions of India has already replaced single-use customer-facing plastics with eco-friendly alternatives like wooden cutlery and paper cups.
Zomato
Zomato is researching eco-friendly packaging options and plans to launch an online marketplace for restaurants to procure such packaging.
Parle Agro
As India’s largest beverage company, Parle Agro announced an investment of INR 50 crore to manage waste from PET bottles over the next three years.
International Perspective
The push to reduce or ban single-use plastics is a global trend. Countries like Canada, China, and Rwanda have taken notable steps.
For instance, Canada is not only working towards banning single-use plastics but is also aiming for a nationwide zero-plastic waste strategy.
Is it Enough?
However, some activists argue that corporate initiatives aren’t sufficient. They point to unimplemented rules from 2016 and say that the plastic manufacturing industry shows no signs of slowing down. They believe substantial change is more likely to come from the public rather than the government or corporations.
In summary, while the Indian government’s recent decision is seen as a step back in fighting pollution, some companies are taking the lead in adopting sustainable practices.
However, there is still debate about whether these corporate measures are enough to make a significant dent in reducing plastic waste and pollution.
