What is the plastic ban & does it affect Cosmo films?

The convenience of having a drink through a straw is something we as a community have become habitual to. That is what single-use plastics are in a word— convenient. However, this convenience comes at a significant cost to our environment.

Single-use plastics are one of the key constituents in landfills. Their sheer quantity is astonishing. That€™s not all, these degrade at a much slower rate and when it does, break down into harmful microplastics that could seep into soil and water. It has been a global issue for quite some time now, with countries coming together to find a solution. The first step? Reducing plastic use to reduce plastic waste.

What is the plastic ban in India?

Considering the amount of littering and the negative effect on both terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems, India has imposed a nationwide ban on the manufacture, import, distribution, sale, and use of various single-use plastic items.

Contrary to popular belief, this is not a sudden decision but is in line with the resolution we as a country made during the 4th United Nations Environment Assembly.

To get a better understanding of what the ban is on, one should know about single-use plastics.

What are single-use plastics (SUP)?

This ban (from July 1st 2022) is aimed at single-use plastics in the country that have low utility & high littering potential. As the name suggests, these are plastics that are disposed of after only one use.

Made predominantly from fossil fuel-based chemicals or petrochemicals, these have shifted the demand among manufacturers since 1970.

India has banned 21 types of SUP including plastic straws, plastic plates, plastic cutlery, earbuds with plastic sticks, etc. The government targeted this ban at those plastics which people discard immediately and have less to zero recyclability.

Products by Cosmo Films

The confusion that groups all types of plastics together is understandable, however, products of Cosmo Films do not come under this ban. Our products are BOPP (bi-axially oriented polypropylene)-based films. These are also recyclable, a crucial factor separating them from the single-use plastics category.

Cosmo Films understands the negative impact plastics have on our environment which is why it always focused on making eco-friendly alternatives. Our unique variants such as the HST-1 (OBD) are a type of printing & pouching film that is oxo-biodegradable.

We have also been partnering with some of the best global brands to offer structure rationalization & recyclability solutions.