The importance of plastic in our
daily lives
Plastics are
polymers of high molecular mass derived from petrochemicals. These polymeric
materials are broadly categorised as commodities, engineering, and specialty
plastics. Commodity plastics are the major products that account for the bulk
of the demand for plastics. Engineering and specialty plastics are plastics
that exhibit superior mechanical and thermal properties in a wide range of
conditions over and above more commonly used commodity plastics and are used
for specific purposes. Engineering and specialty polymers can be tailored for
specific end-use requirements.
2. Commodity plastics comprise of polyethylene
(PE): comprises of [Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Linear Low Density
Polyethylene (LLDPE), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)], Polypropylene
(PP), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polystyrene (PS). The major polymers in
engineering / specialty plastics are Polyamides (Nylon), Polyethylene
Teraphthalate (PET), Polycorbonate (PC), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS),
Styrene Acrylonitrile (SAN), Polystyrene, Polymethyl Metha Acrylate (PMMA), and
many more. The plastics industry is making a significant contribution to the
economic development and growth of various key sectors in the country, such as
automotive, construction, electronics, healthcare, textiles, fast-moving
consumer goods (FMCG), etc.
3. The major raw materials for polymers
are ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, xylene, etc.; these are derived
from petrochemical feedstock streams from crude oil refineries and natural gas.
There are few renewable resources like ethanol from agricultural residues.
(Source: Potential of the Plastics Industry in Northern India with Special
Focus On Plasticulture and Food Processing: A report on plastics industry 2014,
FICCI).
4. The common feature between the molecular
structures of synthetic fibre and plastics is that they both are polymers and
are made up of a long chain of monomers. It is interesting to note
that a monomer is a molecule of any of a class of compounds, mostly organic, that can react with
other molecules to form very large molecules, or polymers.
The essential feature of a monomer is polyfunctionality, the capacity to form
chemical bonds with at least two other monomer molecules. Bifunctional monomers
can form only linear, chainlike polymers, but monomers of higher functionality
yield cross-linked network polymeric products (source: https://www.britannica.com/science/monomers).
All the plastics are polymers, but all the polymers are not plastic, which
means plastic is a sub-division of polymers. Polymers are uniform molecules
formed by small monomers, and plastics are long-chain molecules formed by large
monomers. Polymers can be either natural or synthetic, but plastics are
synthetic materials.
5. An impact evaluation study was carried out in
64 districts in 13 selected states of the country, and more than 7400
beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries were interviewed. The study reveals that
the scheme on micro-irrigation has benefited the farmers in terms of enhanced
productivity and reduced costs of electricity and fertilizers. The average
productivity of fruits and vegetables has increased by about 42.30 percent and
52.80 percent, respectively. Besides, the scheme has also succeeded in reducing
the irrigation cost, which was found to have been reduced by 20–50 percent,
with an average of 32.30 percent. The use of microirrigation systems has also
helped the farmers cut down on their electricity consumption, which was found
to have been reduced by about 31 percent. Successful implementation of the
scheme has also led to an average reduction in fertiliser usage, with an
average reduction of about 28 percent in total fertiliser consumption in the
surveyed states (Source: National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI), Impact
Evaluation Study, June 2014; Global AgriSystem Pvt. Ltd.).
6. Some of the most useful materials,
synthetic polymers, also known as plastics, have transformed our lives in the
last few decades. The driving force behind this development was the need for
conservation of natural resources, energy efficiency, and the inherent
advantages of the material, which created possibilities for innovative designs
and cost savings. Its usefulness, adaptability, and flexibility of usage have
led to a shift in manufacturing from conventional material-based products to
synthetic products.
The unique advantages of plastic over
conventional materials are:
- Higher
strength/weight ratio
- Superior
thermal insulation properties
- Excellent
corrosion resistance
- Superior
flexibility
- Resistance
to most of the chemicals
- Excellent
moisture barrier properties
- Smooth
surfaces result in a reduction in friction losses.
- Excellent
light transmissibility
- It
helps to enhance the shelf-life of the produce.
- Better
visibility of the product
7. Robust, lightweight, and
moldable, plastics play a crucial role in societies around the world. They are
manufactured into countless products that add comfort, convenience, and safety
to just about everything we do, from packaging for the foods we eat to components
in the cars, boats, trains, and aeroplanes we operate. Heavy-duty compost bins
are designed to withhold a heavier load for longer-term composting. These can
be made from recycled material and turned into a high-quality,
maintenance-free, durable, and sustainable second-life product.
8. The structure of the Indian plastics industry
includes 15 polymer manufacturers and 200 equipment manufacturers dominating
production. The Indian plastics industry employs about 40 lakh workers and
comprises around 30,000 processing units and 2,000 exporters. According to the
Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) of the union government, around 85–90% of
the processing units are small and medium-sized enterprises (May 2021). In
Indian policy documents, the ‘plastic industry enterprise refers to industrial
units engaged in the manufacturing of plastic products, items, or articles by
using plastic as raw materials’. (Source:
https://www.cenfa.org/making-plastics-in-india-trends-in-the-industry/). It is
difficult to capture data on workers engaged in the manufacturing of plastic
products as Industry Group 222: NIC 2008 excludes the manufacture of plastic
luggage (1512), plastic footwear (1520), plastic furniture (3100), plastic
sports requisites (3230), plastic games and toys (3240), plastic medical and
dental appliances (3250), plastic ophthalmic goods (3250), plastic hard hats,
and other personal safety equipment (3290) through NSS Periodical Labour Force
Surveys and the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).
8.1. The production of polymers (PE, PS, EPS,
PP, PVC, and PVC compound) has increased during the last 7 years from 7.56
million tonne in 2014–15 to 12.47 million tonne in 2021–22 (a
CAGR of 7.4%), while its consumption has increased from 10.39 million tonne to 14.49
million tonne (a CAGR of 4.9%). The production of performance plastics (ABS
Resin, Nylon-6, Nylon 6,6, PMMA, SAN, PET chips and PTEE) has increased during
the last 7 years from 1.34 million tonne in 2014–15 to 1.98
million tonne in 2021–22 (a CAGR of 5.35%), while its consumption has increased
from 1.58 million tonne to 1.70 million tonne (a CAGR of
1.05%). Here, consumption figures are derived as Production + Imports -
Exports.
8.2. India has low per capita consumption
(9.7 kg) of plastic products as compared to developed countries per capita
consumption: USA (109 Kg), Europe (65 Kg) and China (45 Kg). The global average
for plastics demand in packaging was 35%, infrastructure 25%, auto 17%,
agriculture 8%, and others 15%, and the corresponding figures for India were
packaging 43%, infrastructure 21%, auto 16%, agriculture 2%, and others 18%
during 2012–13 (source: A report on plastics industry 2014, FICCI). The total
consumption of plastic in India amounted to approximately 21 million tonnes in
the year 2021 implying a per capita consumption of 15 kg per person.
8.3. According to data from the Indian Plastics Industry Report, 2019 by the PlastIndia
Foundation, the per capita consumption of plastic products in India
in 2018 was 13.6 kg, while the global average was 30 kg, and the per capita
consumption of plastic products in the following countries was: Brazil 31 kg,
China 56 kg, and the USA 108 kg. Flexible and rigid packaging is the biggest
consumer of various kinds of plastics, forming 59% of total usage, with
building and construction coming a distant second at 13%, followed by
agriculture (9%). Household and automotive come in fourth with 7% each. The
share of electrical and electronics is at 2% and others at 3% (Medical, etc.)
(source:
https://www.cenfa.org/making-plastics-in-india-trends-in-the-industry/).
9. Central Institute of
Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET) (formerly known as Central
Institute of Plastic Engineering & Technology) is a centrally funded
technical higher education institution under the Department of Chemicals &
Petrochemicals, Government of India, and fully devoted to Skill development,
Technology Support, Academic & Research (STAR) activities for the growth of
Petrochemical & allied industries in the country. CIPET conducts long term
training programs (i.e., Diploma, Post Diploma, Post Graduate Diploma,
Undergraduate and Post Graduate) with varying level of entry qualification and
Ph.D. program. CIPET has 46 centers spread across the country which includes 8
Institute of Plastics Technology (IPTs), 31 Centers for Skilling and Technical
Support (CSTS), 03 School for Advanced Research in Polymers (SARP), 4
sub-centers. CIPET Centres have state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities in
the area of Design, CAD/CAM/CAE, Tooling & Mould manufacturing, Plastics
Processing, Testing and Quality Control to cater to the needs of plastics and
allied industries.
9.1 The majority of the skill development
programmes in the field of plastics engineering and technology are sponsored by
various state and central government departments and agencies with the
objective of uplifting the living standards of unemployed or underemployed
youth through gainful employment in leading plastics and allied industries in
India and abroad. During the year 2018–19, CIPET trained 71,015 candidates
through long-term, short-term, and skill-development programmes, compared to
70,056 students trained during the year 2017–18.
9.2. India recycled 12% and burned 20% of the
3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste it generated in 2019–20. There is no
information on the remaining 68% of plastic waste, which most likely ends up in
dumpsites and landfills (Source: The Plastic Life-cycle, 2022 Centre for
Science and Environment). There is plastic waste that can't be recycled and can
only be burnt or can be used for the construction of roads. Examples of
non-recyclable plastics include bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated
wrapping paper and polycarbonate. Well known non-recyclable plastics include
cling film and blister packaging. The disposal of municipal solid waste is in
disorder. Good estimates of discarded plastic, recycled plastic, and
incinerated plastic are not available. Different sets of estimates on discarded
plastic and its disposal are available. When the answerability of urban local
bodies is increased for the conversion of organic waste into compost, which is
a nutrient for soil, they will put pressure on households to segregate plastic,
e-waste, and hazardous wastes from the waste generated by them. These measures
will automatically reduce MSW going into landfills, and there will be reliable
estimates of the disposal of discarded plastic in the form of recycling,
construction of roads, and incineration.
10. Every urban household has
discarded plastic packets—empty milk packets, sugar packets, spices packets,
rice packets, and plastic packaging material—when online deliveries are
received. These discarded packaging plastics are mixed up with waste at the
collection and transportation stages. If an exclusive bin with the catchy title
'Save Environment' is kept in each of the housing societies and gated housing
complexes for putting the discarded plastic packaging material, then this will
have a good impact on the collection of discarded plastic.
10.1 One simple step of collecting e-waste and
hazardous waste by the ULBs on one fixed date, once a month, from the
designated and convenient locations for the cluster of households and small
business entities may make the implementation of the Solid Waste Management
Rules 2016 doable and would be the right step for implementing these complex
rules. Yes, the disposal of e-waste, hazardous wastes, and sanitary waste
following standard operating procedures is essential for improving the quality
of water in our aquifers.
10.2 Local Body Authorities (LBAs) have
to work for two things: one, for every 5000 households that generate 5 tonnes
of daily biodegradable solid waste, a land site for constructing a few pits
where biodegradable waste is to be composted, assuming the entire cycle of
converting biodegradable waste into organic manure will take 120 days. Second,
a proven biochemical process that offers a low-cost and eco-friendly method of
destroying harmful bacteria, stopping decay and malodor generation, stopping
methane formation, and converting solid waste into a soil nutrient compost
10.3 Reflecting the target and achievement
of converting biodegradable waste into a soil nutrient, organic manure, in the
Annual Confidential Reports of officers of ULBs is expected to improve the
efficient utilisation of municipal solid waste.
# The valuable contributions of Dr.
T.K.Chakravarthy, former consultant in the Department of Chemicals and
Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers; Dr. Jasbir Singh, former
consultant in the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals; and Amit Mathur,
Director, Wockhardt Foundation, Goa, are acknowledged.
References
1.
Potential of
Plastics Industry in Northern India with Special Focus On Plasticulture and
Food Processing: A report on plastics industry 2014, FICCI)
- The
Plastic Life-cycle, 2022 Centre for Science and Environment
- Annual
Report 2022-23, Government of India Department of Chemicals &
Petrochemicals Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
- Chemical
and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance – 2022, Government of India
Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals Ministry of Chemicals &
Fertilizers
