The document discusses the issue of plastic pollution and proposes solutions. It notes that plastics are a major source of pollution as most are not recycled. While plastics are very prevalent in modern life, the key issue is plastic waste management rather than plastics themselves. The paper industry could help by recycling products like paper cups and tetra packs that contain a high percentage of paper along with some plastic. This would remove plastic waste from the environment by collecting it along with recycled paper. Mandating that laminated packaging contain at least 75% paper would enable efficient recycling and reduce plastic pollution.

1. Living in a WorldLiving in a World
Full ofFull of Plastics….Plastics….
D K Singhal

2. PlasticsPlastics
Plastics are considered as a biggest source
of pollution.of pollution.
Worldwide, only 11% of plastics are
recycled.
Remaining plastic, billions and billions of
tons of it, becomes menace to
environment.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

3. Stop PlasticStop Plastic
Seems very easy, but in today’s world, can
we even think of having a life entirelywe even think of having a life entirely
without plastics?
No.
Imagine a day in your life using no plastic
directly or indirectly.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

4. Life without PlasticLife without Plastic
You want to eat some confectionary item,
but that’s wrapped in plastic; you needbut that’s wrapped in plastic; you need
water, but all water available is packed in
plastic, you decide to have a RO (Reverse
Osmosis Plant) at your home, often, it too
is made of plastic.
You buy a new shirt, but that’s packed inYou buy a new shirt, but that’s packed in
plastic.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

5. What’sWrong with Plastic?What’sWrong with Plastic?
Plastic is always considered as a menace.
It is a major part of our landfills, andIt is a major part of our landfills, and
creating pollution by many ways.
Animals eat plastic and die.
Drains get choked with plastic and
overflow.overflow.
In agricultural fields, crop production
decrease due to presence of excess
plastics.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

6. What’sWrong with Plastic?What’sWrong with Plastic?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

7. What’sWrong with Plastic?What’sWrong with Plastic?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

8. What’sWrong with Plastic?What’sWrong with Plastic?
Plastic has a long life. It is said that it is
not biodegradable even in 400 years.not biodegradable even in 400 years.
That’s OK.
But –
What is really wrong with plastics?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

9. Biodegradability?Biodegradability?
Plastic is not easily biodegradable.
But, is that the problem?
Why should we be so obsessed with
biodegradability?biodegradability?
Is being non-biodegradable a crime?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

10. NonNon--BiodegradableBiodegradable
In the next slide, I am going to name
something, that is also not biodegradable.something, that is also not biodegradable.
Still, you are living on the earth without
any problem with that.
Probably, by now, you must have recalledProbably, by now, you must have recalled
its name.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

11. StoneStone
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

12. StoneStone
Stones, rocks; like plastics are also non-
biodegradable.biodegradable.
We do not face any problem with stones.
In fact, we need proper solutions for
plastic management rather than blamingplastic management rather than blaming
it.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

13. Plastics managementPlastics management
Most common approach (to me, it looks
funny) is to impose a ban on plastic carryfunny) is to impose a ban on plastic carry
bag.
Have you ever thought,-
‘What does this ban really mean’?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

14. Ban on Plastic Carry BagBan on Plastic Carry Bag
This ban means-
You may buy bread already packed inYou may buy bread already packed in
plastic, but carry it in hand, not in a plastic
carry bag.
You may buy clothing's packed in plastic;
medicines packed in plastic, gift items
packed in plastic, but not use a plastic
carry bag to carry all these to your home.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

15. Ban on Plastic Carry BagBan on Plastic Carry Bag
Similarly, you may buy potato wafers,
biscuits, spices, milk or other householdbiscuits, spices, milk or other household
items, -all packed in plastic-; but cannot
use a plastic carry bag to carry these.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

16. Why Such a Ban?Why Such a Ban?
The purpose of the ban seems to make
people aware about the plastic pollution.people aware about the plastic pollution.
Unfortunately, we keep on using many
plastic packaging material and create
problems to environment.
However, we need to do something
concrete.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

17. What Can We do?What Can We do?
Nothing much…. Individually.
We need good packaging that gives us
assurance of product authenticity, product
quality since packaging, look of product,
product usability within the documented
shelf life etc.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

18. So,What Should be Done?So,What Should be Done?
The plastic cannot create problem if it is
controlled.The problem appears only if itcontrolled.The problem appears only if it
is left unattended.
If you collect all plastic wraps from your
home, from your colony, from your city,
compress it to a big bale, and put it aside,
it will not create any harm, exceptit will not create any harm, except
occupying some space.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

19. But… Who will do that?But… Who will do that?
Nobody.
Anybody doing such thing cannot be given
adequate remuneration, so the problem
remains persistent.
Oh. Is there any way out?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

20. Plastic Capture…Plastic Capture…
If we are able to develop a mechanism
that collecting plastic waste isthat collecting plastic waste is
economically feasible, and there is
someone who can do the job, the
problem will be automatically solved.
Who can do this?
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

21. Paper Industry
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

22. PAPER INDUSTRYPAPER INDUSTRY
Yes, Paper Industry has adequate
capability, strength, know-how, technology,capability, strength, know-how, technology,
infrastructure, network and determination
to do this.
Indian paper industry is already recycling
various poly containing materials. Some of
these are illustrated on the next sheets.these are illustrated on the next sheets.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

23. Paper Cup StockPaper Cup Stock
Paper cups made of paper, but coated
either on one side or on both sides witheither on one side or on both sides with
a thin layer of polythene.
These are commonly used for drinking
cold drinks, lemonade, tea, coffee etc.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

24. Paper Cup StockPaper Cup Stock
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

25. NanNan--BagBag
Nan-bag is another product in which
paper is laminated with aluminum.paper is laminated with aluminum.
You buy Nan, bread, Patties etc.,
microwave it while needed, open the
package and enjoy the taste.
After use, the wrap can be recycled.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

26. TetraTetra--PackPack
Tetra Pack used for packaging fruit juice,
milk or other health drinks is a complexmilk or other health drinks is a complex
item. It contains layers of plastic, paper,
aluminum, polypropylene etc.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

27. TetraTetra--PackPack
As one can understand, tetra pack is the
most complex mixture of differentmost complex mixture of different
materials.
Yet, many paper mills are efficiently using
the same to recover paper fibers and
make paper.
Obviously, other contaminants are
rejected and sent to other recyclers.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

28. Paper IndustryPaper Industry
Obviously, paper industry can be useful in
meeting our packaging needs with themeeting our packaging needs with the
current requirements without doing harm
to environment.
In other words, the paper industry
presents- A Ray of Hope
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

29. A Ray of Hope……A Ray of Hope……
As obvious, if the packaging contains a
substantial content of paper, the papersubstantial content of paper, the paper
industry can use and recycle it.
Paper mill will recover all papermaking
fibers, make paper, and out-throw the
remaining material as a whole.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

30. A Ray of Hope……A Ray of Hope……
This way, the paper will be recycled, but
all the plastic that was in the environmentall the plastic that was in the environment
will go along-with paper and be separated
out at the paper mills.
As the same shall be available in bulk, this
may further be recycled to make some
other products, or used for constructionother products, or used for construction
of roads; or just dumped at designated
landfill locations.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

31. A Ray of Hope……A Ray of Hope……
Anyway, that way, one can get rid of
empty used plastic pouches lying here andempty used plastic pouches lying here and
there.
For the paper mills to be commercially
viable for such recycling, there must at
least 75%-80% paper by weight.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

32. So,What Should be Done?So,What Should be Done?
The laminates must be mandated to use
at least 75% paper, with remaining 25% orat least 75% paper, with remaining 25% or
so being plastic, polypropylene,
polyethylene, aluminum or anything.
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

33. PaperPaper
Paper is a biodegradable, renewable,Paper is a biodegradable, renewable,
sustainable, environment-friendly
product made mainly from recycled
fiber, agricultural waste and sometimes
from non-forest trees.
#UsePaperwithoutGuilt
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018

34. Please think over it, and if you agree, do
share this presentation.share this presentation.
Let’s do our bit to make our planet
plastic free.
ThankYou.
D K Singhal
deveshksinghal@gmail.com
Living in a world full of plastics,April 2018