Environment Day sparks ad war

NEW DELHI: Wednesday was World Environment Day and what were the ads saying? Much what they say every year, but with some really high voltage exceptions.
The Gas Authority of India (GAIL), for instance, broke new ground by loudly appealing on behalf of plastics. GAIL declared that if you encourage paper or cloth, you chop trees. If paper was made the only mode of packaging, then 20 million trees that have matured over 10 years would have to be cut, the GAIL ad said.
Joining the campaign was the Tamilnadu Plastics Manufacturers’ Association which quoted the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology as saying the burning or incineration of commonly used plastic made of polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene do not release dioxin.They dissipate as carbon dioxide and water vapour.
So is plastic good or is plastic bad? We know from experience that it won’t degrade and burning it causes air pollution. Many movements are under way to reduce the use of plastics but do they stand a chance against commercial entities? Some voices came from the wilderness, such as Uttaranchal Tourism’s. ‘‘Don’t be Blind to Hazards of Plastic’’, said its ad.
,Many played it safe. Indian Oil Corporation, for instance, offered free saplings and a pollution check (for every refill).