IndiaPlast 2019, the biggest plastics show in India was inaugurated today by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant in the presence of Arun Kumar Panda, secretary from Ministry of MSME, Mahendra N Patel, chairman, PMMAI and Uflex CMD Ashok Kumar Chaturvedi. The 5-day exhibition being held at India Expo Centre in Greater Noida will conclude on 04 March 2019.
Addressing the media at the inaugural ceremony, Ashok Chaturvedi, CMD of Uflex emphasized on the importance of plastics and its recycling in India. He said that the only alternative available as of now for plastic is wood. However, with the kind of requirement that exists, wood will not be a viable solution as all trees will have to be cut resulting shaving the green off our planet.
On recyclability, Chaturvedi said, “It is possible to recycle plastics and Uflex is giving a live demo of Uflex Recycling Machine at the Green Pavilion of IndiaPlast where multi-layer packaging waste is recycled into pellets through a fairly simple method.” Some useful industrial and household products that are made out of pellets like benches, ladder etc. are also being showcased at the Green Pavillion. Chaturvedi further said, “Indiaplast 2019 has provided Uflex a good platform to showcase its solution for recycling plastics. Mr. Amitabh Kant saw the entire procedure of recycling and has appreciated our efforts to make plastic recyclable and reusable.”
Chaturvedi added, “People are of the perception that plastics are not recyclable. It is for the visitors to witness themselves the possibilities of recycling plastics and converting it into something useful at the Green Pavilion. The best part is that this machine does not emanate any toxins. Some of the delegates that have visited the Green Pavilion are amazed by the results. There is another added feature as well. After recycling plastic, it can be reused in 10,000 different ways like paver tiles, roads, road dividers, signboards, cupboard, outdoor furniture and many more. I want to emphasize that it is possible to recycle and reuse the recycled plastic time and again. Flexible packaging is the ideal solution for packaging currently and the products packed in it are usable only because of the barrier properties that protect the food from moisture and oxygen which may destroy the food. The packaging helps save all the essential properties of the edible product in it.”
Chaturvedi is confident of demand for flexible packaging growing further in the coming years and said, “When there is a complete solution for the waste plastics, the demand is bound to grow. This particular solution of recyclability will encourage people to use more plastic-based materials. I also think that this is the cheapest and best possible option available in the market for packaging edible items. This will definitely help increase the demand of flexible packaging.”
Chaturvedi concluded by saying that with the support of the government and local authorities, the company will look at setting up projects for recyclability of post-consumer waste in the near future, that will also generate employment to rag-pickers. He also offered technology support to industry to set up similar solutions for waste management.
