India Plastics Pact garners support for circular economy

Mahashweta Mukherjee spoke about the launch of the Plastics Pact this year, and highlighted how India aims to enable businesses to transition towards a circular economy for plastics by 2030. Mukherjee said the pact will help to reduce the total amount of plastic packaging, plus build a stronger recycling system which ensures that plastic packaging can be effectively recycled and made into new products.

Some of the plastic data she shared in her presentation was, "India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste and 40% of plastic waste gets uncollected."

Mukherjee said India Plastics Pact’s targets to be achieved by 2030 are: define a list of unnecessary or problematic plastic packaging and items and take measures to address them through redesign and innovation. This meant 100% of plastic packaging to be reusable or recyclable. Also 50% of plastic packaging to be effectively recycled; and finally, 25% average recycled content across all plastic packaging.

Mukerjee felt the India Pact’s targets will address the elimination of unnecessary and problematic plastic packaging. She felt packaging should become reusable, recyclable or compostable while also increasing "the rates of reuse, collection, recycling the recycled content in plastic packaging."

Mukherjee underscored the importance of reduction of plastic. The launch of India Plastics Pact should enable India to transition towards a circular economy for plastics by 2030. This is an initiative between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and WWF India to eliminate plastic packaging out of the natural environment.

Mukherjee spoke about the importance of packaging innovations and recycling infrastructure. She spoke about waste management systems that can eliminate plastic waste across the 3Rs (reduction, reuse, recycling). Mukherjee said India needs conscious citizens and businesses that can "fight plastic pollution".