Hiten Bheda, Chairman of the Environment Committee of the All India

Plastic Manufacturers Association, says India's plastic industry recorded

an annual revenue worth Rs 3.5-lakh crore in FY19. This was spread
across 50,000 processing units, the bulk of these being small and
medium enterprises. It is one of the fastest-growing industries in India
as it sees its fortunes linked to the growth of every other industry.

Which industries use single-use plastic?

FMCG companies; air conditioner, fridge and other consumer appliance
manufacturers; e-commerce; hospitality; and restaurants. Also, small
retail shop owners and grocery stores use single-use plastic for product
delivery.
What are the alternatives to single-use plastic?
There are alternatives such as glass, paper and cardboard. But, they too
leave a significant impact on the environment. While paper means
cutting trees, glass leaves a significant carbon footprint and consumes a
lot of power.
How many states have already banned single-use plastic?
While most states -- around 18 -- have banned plastic carry bags, select
states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh have
also banned 'one-time use and throw away plastic items' like cutlery,
plates, cups, straws, etc.
The Plastic industry in the country employs about 40 lakh people which
include more than 30,000 processing units. Around 85-90 percent of
which are small and medium - sized enterprises. A ban on the plastics
could easy affect industry, posing question on the trade and
employment.\

Top plastic manufacturing companies in India:

1. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd

2. Kingfa Science & Technology India Ltd
 3. Mayur Uniquoters Ltd
4. Plastiblends India Ltd
5. Responsive industries ltd.

Top ecofriendly substitutes of plastic:

1.glass

2. reusable shopping bags

3.plastic additives

4. milk protein

5.grape waste

6. liquid wood

7.PCL & PHA polyesters.

8.starch based polymers.

India is likely to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups, small

bottles, straws and some types of sachets next month as part of Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's efforts to reduce use of pollution-causing,
single-use plastic.
But the plans have stoked fears among consumer firms, which, use
plastic in packaging for everything from sodas and biscuits to ketchup
and shampoo.
Coca-Cola said in a statement that all its primary packaging does not
consist of single-use plastic. Pepsi said its target was to make 100
percent of its packaging recyclable, compostable, or biodegradable by
2025. Hindustan Unilever did not respond to a request for comment.
Amazon did not respond, but has previously said that it plans to replace
single-use plastic in its packaging by June 2020.
Big businesses like e-commerce websites, food delivery platforms and
consumable brands among others, largely rely on plastic items to
deliver their products to consumers. The companies which offer
products that are banned by the state government are Pankaj Polymers
and Biopac India Corporation, both produce disposable ware. Both the
stocks corrected sharply by 19% (Pankaj Polymers) and 9% (Biopac India
Corporation) over the last one month.
Due to this ban, 50,000 SMEs are going to be impacted which provide
employment to about 4 lakh people. These SMEs have urged the
government to scrap the plastic ban and instead make consumers more
aware of ways to dispose of plastics.
Going ahead, this Go Green initiative is likely to open up new
opportunities mainly for the companies which are in the manufacturing
business of plastic bags, cloth bags and jute bags. Also, on January 5,
2018, the government has imposed anti-dumping duty ranging from
US$6.30 to 351.72 per tonne on imports of jute and its products from
Nepal & Bangladesh. This move would help the Indian Jute companies
to improve their margins, going ahead. Also, this ban is likely to be
beneficial to the paper industry as well because paper bags are the best
substitute and it is eco-friendly and lightweight. NR Agarwal Industries
CMP : Rs 515.50
BSE CODE : 516082
Face Value : Rs 10
BSE Volume : 1009
NR Agarwal Industries Ltd (NRAIL), is in the business of manufacturing
finished paper products by recycling waste paper. The company is one
of the largest manufacturers of recycled grey back and white back
duplex boards (DB) in the country.
About 10 per cent of NRAIL’s revenue is from exports to Sri Lanka,
Middle East, Bangladesh and Africa.