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)

2. The Plastic Life-cycle, 2022 Centre for Science and Environment
3. Annual Report 2022-23, Government of India Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers
4. Chemical and Petrochemical Statistics at a Glance – 2022, Government of India Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers