Single-Use Plastic Banned By The European Parliament
The EU plastics bill also includes deadlines for reducing or recycling other plastics such as bottles, fishing lines, food wrappers, and cigarette filters.
Plastic bottles and other plastics, including a mop, lie washed up on the bank of the River Thames in London, Britian. (Representational image). VOA
The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to ban single-use plastic products such as straws, eating utensils and coffee sticks across the European Union.
The measure passed 571 to 53, with 34 abstentions.
If approved by the European Commission — the EU executive — and individual states, the ban would become law in 2021.
Plastic items washed up by the sea are seen at the Ao Phrao Beach, on the island of Ko Samet, Thailand, June 9, 2018. (VOA)
Supporters say plastics are a major source of pollution that chokes oceans, litters cities, and can take decades to disintegrate.
Some U.S. cities have moved to ban plastic straws in restaurants after a heartbreaking video of a wildlife rescuer pulling a straw out of a turtle’s bloody nose was posted on the internet earlier this year.
A plastic bottle washed up by the sea . (VOA)
A consortium of European plastics manufacturers called the EU bill “disproportionate” and said banning single-use plastics discourages investment into new ways to recycle.
The EU plastics bill also includes deadlines for reducing or recycling other plastics such as bottles, fishing lines, food wrappers, and cigarette filters. (VOA)
This initiative is in continuation of Flipkart's sustainability agenda under which it has already reduced the utilisation of single-use plastic by 33 per cent and aims to move towards 100 per cent recycled plastic consumption in its supply chain by March 2021
New e-commerce norms to impact e-tailers: Flipkart. IANS
Flipkart on thursday announced the rollout of a new initiative that focuses on creating awareness among consumers on the proper disposal of plastic packaging and make them active participants in its sustainability agenda.
Flipkart is conducting a pilot project to collect plastic packaging back from consumers at select hubs across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dehradun, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
The initiative aims at ensuring existing plastic packaging in the system is recycled and reused.
“We have taken bold steps towards reducing single-use plastic in the system by replacing it with various eco-friendly alternatives and are constantly innovating with our approaches. We are proud to be the first-ever e-commerce marketplace to channelise plastic packaging back into the system through door-to-door collection with the help of our wishmasters,” said Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group.
“We believe a collective approach of all stakeholders would help us in achieving the dream of a Swachh and Samridha Bharat, and the country’s vision to phase out single-use plastic,” Kumar added.
After six months of thorough research, evaluation of options and initial testing in India and select international markets, the brand is ready to switch from single-use plastic packaging to compostable packaging material starting October 1, 2019 for all future manufacturing in India. Pixabay
Under the initiative, the company will send out an intimation to consumers asking them to voluntarily hand over plastic packaging to Flipkart wishmasters for its proper disposal, at the time of product delivery.
The collected packets will then be sent to registered vendors to ensure it is disposed of responsibly to avoid ending up in landfills, the company said in a statement.
Wishmasters have also been provided proper training in explaining the various facets of this initiative to consumers to ensure high participation.
This initiative is in continuation of Flipkart’s sustainability agenda under which it has already reduced the utilisation of single-use plastic by 33 per cent and aims to move towards 100 per cent recycled plastic consumption in its supply chain by March 2021. (IANS)
