While India’s plastic waste problem is growing, the Government of India’s proposed solution is set to have huge implications for the packaging industry. With an imminent single-use plastic ban scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2022, the packaging sector is racing to implement easy-open packaging that balances sustainability with performance.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is moving ahead with its proposed ban, which was first announced last year, following its 2019 resolution to reduce plastic pollution across India. The measure is forcing the packaging industry to adapt by integrating more sustainable alternatives to oil-derived plastics such as post-consumer recycled plastic or paper-based materials.

Given the market’s rapid trend toward easy-open packaging, particularly in sectors that rely on film wraps such as the tobacco industry, it is clear that easy-open tape manufacturers must also innovate in line with these requirements.

There is an array of promising alternatives to plastic that will help progress the industry towards the goal of fully circular solutions according to Ian Beresford, head of marketing and development at leading tapes manufacturer Essentra Tapes. Discussing the ban, he said, “While plastic reduction laws such as these are beneficial in the long term, they do pose some short-term challenges for the whole packaging industry. In particular, they demand innovative thinking from sectors that rely on plastic film overwrap such as the tobacco industry.

“We know that, while consumers want more eco-friendly packaging, it must also be desirable and functional or its impact will be limited. Converters and brands must ensure their packaging is enhanced with easy-open technology while balancing that with their environmental obligations. Sustainable easy-open tapes are absolutely at the heart of the ‘net zero’ future.

“We have already developed SupaStrip PCR, a 70% post-consumer recycled plastic tape for flexible packaging. And we are seeing promising results on compostable alternatives. We have received a lot of interest in these products from our Indian colleagues and customers. So, where there are challenges, there are also great opportunities.”

40% – around 10,000 tonnes – of plastic waste in India remains uncollected, according to the Foundation for Campaign Against Plastic Pollution. While the single-use plastic ban has been welcomed by environmental campaigners, there is broad agreement that more action is needed. It is expected that the government will announce more initiatives and regulations to promote alternatives to single-use plastic in the future.

India has actually already committed to toughening up its plastic legislation. It was part of the UN Environment Assembly where, along with 123 other countries, India committed to introducing 360-degree legislation covering the full life cycle of plastics. The exact form these laws will take is yet to be decided, but it is reasonable to assume they will aim to encourage companies to manufacture, use, or sell more recyclable plastic packaging.

Beresford addressed this, adding, “We would advise businesses who use plastic packaging to look into overhauling their packaging now. It is only a matter of time before the central government toughens up these laws, and any company that has advanced its packaging sustainability agenda now – including easy-open solutions – will already be one step ahead of the competition when that time arrives.

“Consumers expect both sustainability and easy-opening performance from modern packaging. Any company that has a reliable, proven solution in place that addresses both of those issues – such as rPET film with a SupaStrip PCR tape – is going to find itself seizing a lot of the market share. Any company that doesn’t face a last-minute dash to find an alternative, at a time when supply chains are unpredictable.”