Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Title of Report: E-WASTE MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY

Name(s) and Student ID(s) of Contributor(s)

Name of the Student Register Number Role of Contribution

SHAIK VAHEED 9921005255 GATHERED INFO
SHAIK AFRID 9921005253 GATHERED INFO
P.VENKATA KRISHNA 9921005221 GATHERED INFO
TELLABATI ABHINAV 9921005263 GATHERED INFO
SIDDAM ANAND 9921005257 GATHERED INFO
SREE CHANDAN 9921005228 GATHERED
PICTURES
J.SRAVANTH DEEP 9921005250 GATHERED
PICTURES
BATHULA SIVA REDDY 9921005265 TOOK SURVEY
NETI TEJA 9921005199 TOOK SURVEY
G PRAVEEN REDDY 9921005268 SYSTEM OPERATORS
TALARI PRANEETH 9921005259 SYSTEM OPERATOR

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 Date: 28.03.2022
Name of Instructor: Dr.S.Badrinath
Course Name and Code: 211MEC1401 - Sustainable Design and Manufacturing

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 Case Study Report Format

Deadline: 30.03.2022

Start & End Dates Activity Complete?

thrusday, 10th march Plan your approach, read the assignment instructions, and case study thoroughly

Conduct the research that is needed

Conduct and draft your analysis

Create your alternatives and decision criteria and draft these sections

Draft your recommendations and implementation plan

Draft your introduction

Draft your conclusion

Draft your executive summary

Edit your work for macro and micro writing issues (e.g., Munter & Hamilton, 2014)

Include buffer before the deadline due to potential online submission errors, etc.

wednesday, 30th march Submit final copy

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 Presentation components for the evaluation of case study report as per RUBRICS

Date & time of presentation: Group No:

Assessment metric (1 to 3 scale)

Presentation Component Comments by the faculty
S1 S2 S3 S4 S5

Introduction

Outline of Your Presentation

Summary of Your Recommendation

Analysis

Alternative and Decision Criteria

Recommendation and implementation plan

Conclusion

Questions and Answer period

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 Table of Contents

BACKGROUND: INTRODUCTION………………………………………..2

CLASSIFICATIONS…………………………………………………………4

BURDENS OF E- WASTAGE……………………………………………….7

IMPACTS ON HEALTH…………………………………………………….9

CURRENT STATUS OF E- WASTE MANAGEMENT…………………...14

E-WASTE MANAGEMENT INTIATIVE…………………………………15

CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………….19
 Executive Summary
This case study report aims to answer the following questions:

 What is the purpose of using Plastic Bags?

 How the plastic bags are manufactured?
 What are the problems faced by means of using plastic bags?
 Whether the plastic bags are properly disposed of after its end-of-life (EOL)?

1.1 Purpose of the Product:

People use plastic bags to carry items like food and clothes, which are bought from
shops. Plastic bags are commonly used, even though we know they can damage the
environment.

Fig: 1.1 – Plastic Bags

1.2 Process of Making Plastic Bags:

Most of the plastic bags are manufactured from high density polyethylene. These
polyethylene are derived from refined oil or cracked natural gas. These refined oil is
transmitted to a refinery. In the refinery, petroleum is separated into different densities. This
allows the oil required for manufacturing of plastics to be extracted. The gas or oil is
pressurized and superheated to make sure pure polyethylene chains are isolated. It’s vital to
Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

isolate these chains so they can be polymerized to form resin pellets of pure plastic. Varying
amounts of pressure and heat will be used to manufacture resin pellets of different densities.
Next, tons of small plastic pellets are put under high heat and pressure to melt the material
before its cut, shaped into bags, and printed. Figure 1.2 shows the step by step process
involved in making of plastic bags.

Fig 1.2 – Process of Making Plastic Bags

1.3 Problems facing by using Plastic Bags

For urban solid waste, plastic bags have become major items in the litter system. This
has resulted in many detrimental environmental effects including animal choking, pollution,
blockage of channels, rivers and streams, and landscape disfigurement. As a result of these
effects, the public at large, activists and legislatures have voiced outrage to the degree that
some national governments have banned the use of plastic bags for shopping.

1.4 Conclusion

Prohibitions on the use of plastic bags and the development of alternatives are a most
welcome step when compared to putting pressure on people's production and use of plastic
bags. Even though charging a levy on plastic bags has a positive effect on protecting and
preserving the fertility of agricultural land, the resulting continued and dominant use of
plastic bags itself would negate the benefits or advantages of the levy. In order to avoid the
environmental problems, human health problems, we are in the situation to look out for the
alternative bags instead of using plastic bags.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Analysis
 How the plastic bags are making impact to the environment? Is there any possibility
to make safe disposal or any possibility of recovering (remanufacturing, reuse)?
 Apart from the environmental problems, what are all the other problems happened by
means of using plastic bags? What’s the solution?
 Has the any initiatives taken by the government to overcome from this problem? If
Yes
 What are the problems faced by the plastic bags manufacturers after banning their
business?

2.1 Analysis of the Problems faced by using Plastic Bags

We are polluting the environment by directly dumping the plastic bags waste to
environment.

 Plastic bags are non-biodegradable. It can take up to 2000 years to decompose

completely.
 Plastic bags are manufactured from petroleum products, from this plastic bags
contributes significantly to the depletion of the valuable resource, making the prices.

2.1 Dumping of Plastic bags in open land Area

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

 Animals especially cows are eating those thrown plastic bags. Plastic cannot be
digested properly and hence will accumulate in the stomach leading to the animal’s death.
And also Plastic carry bags are causing dangerous problems to wildlife. It’s dangerous to
fish, to birds and other animals, including farming livestock

2.2 Animal eating plastic carry bags

 Plastic food storage packages have toxic chemicals (Bisphenol-A (BPA)) which helps
the manufacturer to make it more flexible and durable, but it causes serious health
problems especially direct contact with food particles. Due to this chemical, humans are
facing the problems like ulcers, asthma, obesity, and certain cancers.
 While producing plastic bags toxic chemical are released which creates severe
environment problem like land, water and air pollution.
 The dumped plastic bags normally release chemicals that seep into ground and reach
ground water reservoirs. That will create the problem for groundwater pollution.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

2.3 – Chemical gases exposed from Dumped Plastic Bags

 Massive accumulation of plastic bags block drainage system which creates many
severe problems.

2.2 Analysis of problems faced by the manufacturers.

 As the initiative from the government to arrest all the listed problems above, the
government banned all the small scale manufacturers of Plastic bags.
 The manufacturers already doing this business they suffered a lot. They made the
capital investment on the purchase of the machine.
 Many workers depend on this business they faced the problems for their daily life.
 Plastic bags manufacturers are forced to rethink their ideas for making bags in
alternative way with eco-friendly method.
 The demand for the bags is in peak only, it gives the boost up the manufacturers to
come up with alternative method to produce such bags.
 Common people who used those bags are really looking for similar kind of bags, as
they faced the comfort level by using those bags.


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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Alternatives
 What kind of alternative bags can be used for the replacement of plastic bags?
 How the eco-friendly bags are manufactured? What are all the constraints they faced
while starting those business?
 Is this kind of bags are 100% eco-friendly?

3.1 Alternative Bags which helps to address the sustainability problems.

 In order to save human life and our planet against life threating plastic bags, here are
several environmental friendly alternatives that can help to replace the plastic bags
usage.
 More kind of alternative bags are available in the market like Cotton bags, Reusable
paper bags, Jut bags, Cotton bags, Hemp bags, Bamboo bags, Canvas bags, Reusable
polyster bags, etc…

Paper Bags
Jute Bags Bamboo bags

Fig 3.1 – Alternative Bags

3.2 Benefits of using eco-friendly bags

 Plastic waste in the environment will be reduced

 Less usage of natural resources & fossil fuels
 Elimination of plastic tax
 Reduction in expenses for cleanup

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

 Very comfortable, convenient & stronger

 Showing your support for the environment
 Consumes less space
 You will have peace of mind having done your part to save the environment

3.3 Challenges faced while implementing Alternative bags

 Significant initial investments

 May be time-consuming.
 Confined variety of products.
 Difficult to find industry experts.
 Paper mailer bags may not offer the best protection to the product.
 High level of motivation needed to stay green.
 More Expensive.
 Cotton bags requires frequent cleaning, else bacteria growth may be found.
 Paper bags aren’t waterproof and considerably heavier.
 Bamboo bags are more difficult to care. It’s inadvisable to machine wash bamboo
fabric; the liquid detergent and the fact that the fabric will sit in water for a long
period of time both serve to break down the textile and reduce its lifespan.
 When the eco-friendly bags are introduced at the first time, cost for the bag should be
paid by the customers, but not in the case of plastic carry bags which is free of cost.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Recommendation and Implementation Plan

 Is there any government schemes which helps for the eco-friendly bags
manufacturers?
 What is the plan for implementing those eco-friendly bags?
 What kind of materials can be used in developing eco-friendly bags?

4.1 Government Recommendations

 As the initiative from the government side, they are motivating and providing loan
amount to start the new small scale companies for starting this kind of businesses.
 The government has made continuous efforts to improve the social and economic
aspects of life in rural areas of India and one of the most popular schemes that the
Indian government has sanctioned in this regard is ASPIRE. A Scheme for Promotion
of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) is a Government of
India initiative and promoted by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSME).
 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched the ‘Meendum Manjappai’
scheme to promote the use of cloth bags by the public and discourage the use of
plastic bags. This awareness campaign on using ‘yellow’ cloth bag or ‘manjapai’ as it
is called in Tamil, is aimed at encouraging the people to return to the use of this eco-
friendly bag and discard the plastic bags.
 Government notifies the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021,
prohibiting identified single use plastic items by 2022.
 Thickness of plastic carry bags increased from 50 to 75 microns from 30th September,
2021 and to 120 microns with effect from the 31st December, 2022.

4.2 Implementation Plan

 To make Paper bags, newspapers or craft papers are procured from the nearby market
and it is converted into carry bags.
 Customized paper option bag will be recommended as per the size, shape and quality
of the bags required.
 Cloth bags are manufactured with the help of used cloth from households or high
quality raw materials will be purchased as per the demand.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

 To increase the strength of the bags, Paper machine can be used.

 Eco-friendly bags can be initiated from home onwards, housewives are doing
preparing paper bags. Papers are cut into relevant size as per the customer
requirements and can be made into paper bags.

Fig 4.1 - Steps involved in jute bag manufacturing process

 In view of making cloth bags, based on the request from the customer order, texture
colour and graph, suitable cloths first will be chosen, next fabrics are cut as per the
order received. Next stitching of bags will be carried out and send it for packing.
 With the initial amount of having 50,000 rupees any one can start the cloth bags
manufacturing company by having cutting machine, stitching machine, attachment
machine, chairs and tables as per the staff members requirement.
 Paper bag manufacturing can also be started with the same initial amount (50,000
Rupees). It follows the process of paper sheering, eyelet punching, paper creasing,
Hard pressing machine, folding, sticking, finishing and finally checking and packing
of the bags.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Conclusion
Although plastic is becoming a big threat for all of us, still this problem has often
been overlooked and underestimated. This is because people do not look at the long term
effect of these small, easy to carry bags they use in their everyday life. Besides all of these
people keep using bags due to their convenience. But now everyone has to completely stop
using the plastic bag to save our environment and earth. Poor waste disposal system and
usage of non-biodegradable materials, dumping of heavy plastic bags in one place makes
major problems to the environment, humans and animals. Here the proposed solution
suggests that usage of eco-friendly bags provide clean, safe and eco-friendly alternative. Eco-
friendly bags are made of 100% biodegradable materials, old newspapers, craft papers, used
clothes, jute, etc… Eco-friendly bags not only recycle material and also eliminate the single
use of plastic which harm the environment. Production of Eco bags provide sustainable
source of income that producers, poor people can support themselves and their families also.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

Expected Outcome
By making eco-friendly bags, the following outcomes may be attained.

 Degrading to the environment will be minimized.

 Re-usage of the bags gives the extended life time of the product.
 Recycling of the bags are possible, which gives the profit for the
manufacturer.
 No need to worry about the disposal of the used bags.

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Case Study Report - 1 Topic - Introduction, Significance and Challenges of Sustainability Jan 2022

References
1. Sustainable Product Development Tools, Methods and Examples
https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-39149-2#editorsandaffiliations

2. Gamba, C. (2012). Plastic bags: A sustainability case study.

3. Lewis, H., Verghese, K., & Fitzpatrick, L. (2010). Evaluating the sustainability
impacts of packaging: the plastic carry bag dilemma. Packaging Technology and
Science: An International Journal, 23(3), 145-160.
4. Gano-an, J. C. (2018). Consumers’ preferences on the use of eco-friendly bags: A
green marketing perspective. Journal of Economics, Business & Accountancy
Ventura, 20(3), 357-362.
5. Horská, E., Pulatov, A., & Abdirashidov, A. (2015). Consumption towards
environmentally friendly consumer behaviour: The case of plastic bags. Visegrad
Journal on Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development, 4(2), 42-45.
6. https://medium.com/@catchfoundationngo/9-types-of-environment-friendly-bags-
to-use-be-an-eco-lover-d12bd64e588a

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