India is set to become the first country in the world to ban plastic. This is a huge step for the country and it will have an impact on all of us. The Indian government has announced that it plans to completely ban single-use plastics by 2022. This includes plastic bags, cups, straws, and packaging. The government says that this new law will help India reduce its carbon footprint by 3-4 million tons annually and also save $6 billion yearly in clean-up costs. This ban is not only about reducing pollution but also about saving India’s natural resources like water and land from being polluted by plastic waste.
India is one of the top ten countries in terms of the production and consumption of plastic products. The country produces about 25,000 metric tons of plastics every day and consumes about 15,000 metric tons. It is estimated that India generates about 60 million tons of waste every year, out of which 9% is plastic waste.
The Indian government has proposed a complete ban on single-use plastics by 2022 with an exception for some items like packaging material for medicines and food items, as well as plastic that cannot be substituted with any other material. This move will have a huge impact on various sectors like tourism, hospitality, logistics, packaging industry, etc.
The prime minister of India Narendra Modi has been vocal about reducing pollution and this is one step in that direction. Some people are not happy about this as they feel it will make life difficult for them as they won't be able to carry their lunch or coffee to work without using plastic bags but these are small inconveniences when compared to the benefits of protecting our environment.
