Plastic has become an inalienable part of our lives

Be it prepping up for a good meal or packing something useful for office, or even throwing the waste food into the bin, plastic has played an important role in our lives and continues to do so especially in the kitchen. However, ever since the ban was announced on October 2 by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more and more people are trying to curb its usage as plastic waste which is non-degradable stays on the surface of the earth for thousands of years, adding toxicity to the environment and engendering lives.

As per recent data, India uses about 14 million tonnes of plastic annually, the only reason for littering is the lack of an organised system for plastic waste management (PWM). Call it effective or not, but plastic waste management is the need of the hour. Apart from this, one can also opt for single-use plastic which is considered bio-degradable. This kind of plastic is used for making sachets, plastic bags, small bottles, and even straws; which once used are thrown away, adding to the waste. The President of Plastindia Foundation Jigish Doshi says, “The government should clarify the definition of ‘Single-use plastics’ to avoid any misinterpretation and miscommunication by the industry.”

But it is difficult to let go of plastic, howsoever it may be as it is really convenient. However, the harm it causes is more serious than we can think of and hence it is important to find reasonable substitutes. Here are some possible solutions that can be adopted in our homes and kitchens.

Invest in mesh bags: You can easily purchase mesh bags that are available everywhere for storing fruits to vegetables. They will keep them fresh for long. The best thing about mesh bags is that they can be cleaned easily too in the washing machine.

Store in glass containers: We usually store our leftovers and dried goods in plastic containers; however, you must opt for reusable glass containers like jam and sauce bottles to store such stuff.

Carry a reusable water bottle: It happens a lot of times that whenever we are thirsty, we take a water bottle which is again plastic. Instead, you can carry a reusable water bottle so that whenever you are thirsty, you can fill it up.

Use steel containers: Replace all-plastic kitchen containers with the steel ones as it doesn’t impart toxicity in food. Steel is known to be non-corrosive and is considered a healthy option.

Use cloth bags with compartments: Whenever you go out for vegetable shopping, you must use cloth bags with compartments as they can hold more veggies.

Buy in bulk: Another way to avoid plastic sage is try buying your groceries in bulk as and when you can afford. It is suggested to go for this as it is cheaper as well.

Avoid bringing plastic in home: Last, but not the least, avoid bringing any kind of plastic in your home. Try and opt for other methods.

While, this move is certainly for the benefit for the society, but people also believe that it will cause job losses in this current state of economic crisis. Environmentalist Elsie Gabriel believes that Modi government must help the manufacturing units with tax rebates and in shifting plastic usage to banana leaves, jute, wood and bamboo alternatives.

Not just this, several companies are also adopting new methods to promote the recycling of plastics that can ensure the minimizing of environmental footprints. One such start-up is Rage Coffee, whose founder Bharat Sethi has created a loyalty program where the users are encouraged to return the coffee shots once consumed for points, and then the packaging is dealt with in the most efficient way possible.

Parle Agro, a beverage manufacturing company is also adopting innovative solutions that will limit the impact on natural resources, eliminate waste and reduce carbon footprint. Commenting on the same, Schauna Chauhan, CEO of Parle Agro said, “We have reduced PET Resin by 12 per cent in bottles and 15 per cent reduction of HDPE/PP in closures/ caps.”

You will be surprised to know that littering is probably the severest problem related to plastic bags and the carbon footprint of plastic (LDPE or PET, polyethylene) is about 6 kg CO2 per kg of plastic. This would certainly help you in understanding the gravity of this problem and with this hope, we urge you to STOP the usage of plastic in any form and opt for other alternatives.