Plastic industry should focus on manufacturing quality, sustainable products: Union Minister Goyal

New Delhi, July 8 (KNN) Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday called upon players in the plastic industry to prioritize the production of high-quality and environmentally sustainable products by leveraging new technology and innovation.

He emphasized the need to enhance global competitiveness and boost exports in the sector.

Addressing the 2nd ‘Technology Conference for Growth of Plastic Industry’, Goyal said, “We are introducing quality checks and quality control on orders to stop the production or consumption, whether domestic or imported, of sub-standard and low quality, under-priced goods, which tend to hurt the plastic industry, our consumer interests and hamper the overall reputation and image of our country.”

“We are looking at how we can support the recycling of plastic waste or reuse of plastic raw material, and how we can make plastic disposable more effective and efficient. The global average rate of recycling is just 9 per cent. Some of the developed economy is as low as 4 per cent. In this India outshines, as 13 per cent of our plastic is being recycled,” he said.

The minister further said that the plastic industry should mould itself with emerging times and needs of this world with newer ideas, adoption of latest technology, collaborations with stakeholders for research and development, so that India can become globally competitive.

Goyal urged the plastic industry to expand its contribution to the GDP of the country in the next five years.

The conference was organised by All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA).

AIPMA in a detailed study on import of plastic goods in the country, revealed that Rs 37,500 crore plastic goods were imported in 2021-22.

After detailed analysis, AIPMA has selected 553 plastic products for import substitution, which is estimated that plastic goods worth Rs 37,500 crore would create an additional requirement of around 4 million tonnes of raw material per annum and over 16,000 plastics processing machines including tools, moulds, jigs and fixtures.

KNN Bureau