12) Better opportunity to educate citizens:

A workforce of at least a million people, cleaning up cities and the environment, working in uniforms with pamphlets, banners and educative brochures in hand, I don't think there is a better method to spread awareness among the citizens of the need and methods for the proper use and disposal of plastics. With additional awareness through the print and electronic media and with joint efforts of all industry segments and associations, this necessity of educating citizens is not too far from our reach.

13) Create awareness for plastics being user friendly:

The industry has lacked in advertising, maintaining quality norms, and creating systems for promotion of plastics. Right from schools, colleges and polymer/plastics institutes, this programme should have been started at least three decades ago. Even now, it must be started with great follow-up and scientific methodology. Our youth must know the usefulness and disposal systems for plastics if as citizens, they can join the main stream of civic improvement for themselves, their families and their surroundings.

14) No burden on any Govt. body:

We provide information to Govt. bodies about technical properties, whether good or bad. Our polymer representatives provide information for the formation of standards, rules, regulations and legislation. Yet, we ourselves have not implemented good manufacturing practices. Now, if we undertake to clean our cities and environment of the pollution created by plastics, we will strengthen and help all Govt. bodies to do their task (even those tasks which they have failed to do because of sudden unmanageable growth in volumes). When our industry alleviates the burden on Govt. bodies, our industry, as a whole will find favour with one and all.

15) Arrest waste of money to counter attacks:

We are spending tons of money in creating new Departments, Associations and Regulatory agencies. But the only effective way is to clean up the mess. Awareness in a country with a population of over one billion cannot be achieved by a handful of people without any commercial interest and if I may say vested interests. It is absolutely necessary to set up a Waste Management Organisation on a national level with effective control, workforce, direction, and with commercial goals, if this programme has to be successful. Anything other than this, is just a waste of precious money because the attacks on the plastics industry are on a much larger scale than the counter attacks. I appeal to our industry to find funds for the setting up and operation of a Waste Management Organisation as suggested by me earlier and implement the cleaning programme on a war footing.

On this issue of creating awareness and education, it is very important that the Plastics Packaging and Polymer Industry follow the following 4 Ps of plastics:

1. PLEDGE:

Students in every Institution, industry, College, Polytechnic and Institutions connected with plastics, packaging or polymers must make a pledge to pursue the following as a part of their career and life.

2. PROMOTE:

To promote the healthy growth of plastics ethically, by good manufacturing practices and by positive propaganda.

3. PRACTICE:

To practice good usage and disposal methods, at our homes with our families, at our workplace, and around our community and city. If all students and the entire workforce connected to the plastics, polymers and packaging industries practice proper usage and disposal of plastics, and help influence their families and friends to do the same, we would have a large workforce and task force to encounter any false propaganda, myths and attacks on the industry.

4. PROTECT:

Every student and worker of our industry must pledge to protect the industry from vested groups and unwarranted false and harmful attacks. If you are convinced that plastics is a user friendly material, how can you allow any attack to kill the industry. If you cannot stand up and encounter such attacks, you need to undergo a training programme for this. Every academic Institution must necessarily include such a training programme in their curriculum to advance the knowledge of plastics, the proper disposal of plastics and the usefulness of plastics.

If we have a clean mind and clean environment around us, surely, the entire locality and in turn the entire nation will become environmentally clean. The need is to start with ourselves.

I am eagerly looking forward to receiving your views, suggestions and support to make this a reality. Even a short note with your feedback would be appreciated. Click here to leave your feedback/suggestions.

By Mr Ashok Kumar