The recent ban on single-use plastics, effective July 1, is likely to challenge food and beverage companies. An alternative like paper straws will cost more than the affordable ones now offered by various brands. Brands feel that integrated plastic straws come as part of juice and milk based beverage packs and do not contribute much to plastic pollution as they are part of the recycling and processing chain that has already been established by the companies Which are part of their EPR mandate. With no sustainable alternative to the integrated plastic straws available today, Dabur India Working to import paper straws. Imports will have cost effect on companies and loss of revenue to the exchequer. “This goes against the nature of Atmanirbhar Bharat and puts additional cost pressure on companies in these inflationary times. While some state regulators have allowed the use of biodegradable plastic straws and paper straws, the infrastructure for mass production of these straws does not exist in India today,” says Mohit Malhotra, CEO, Dabur India , which will soon launch to reduce shampoo refill pouch. Plastic in packaging. In this financial year, the brand had launched carton-free toothpaste packaging.

Beverages company Parle Agro, which makes brands like Frooti, ​​Appi, Appy Fizz, B-Fizz, Smooth, Belly, Froyo, Dishoom and Bombay99, has urged the Center to postpone the plastic ban by six months to ensure necessary changes in technology. sourcing, and ensuring a smooth transition to eco-friendly alternatives to paper or PLA. The brand said the current available capacity to provide replacement of plastic straws with PLA straws or paper straws by a local Indian manufacturer is 1.3 million straws per day as opposed to the actual requirement of around 6 million straws per day, and will be banned in a hurry. . Several players in the FMCG and beverage segment have a negative impact on the industry and overall businesses. Importing straw would be 6 to 8 times more expensive, making the cost of the product unaffordable. For Parle Agro, 50% of the company’s business is from rural markets as their products are priced to cater to consumers across India. The price rise will lead to a fall in demand and affect sales.

“The moratorium will allow packaging companies to create the right infrastructure required to source locally. Even manufacturing of PLA straws will require time to get approval from regulatory bodies after proper testing,” says Shauna Chauhan, CEO, Parle Agro, adding that the percentage of increase in the cost of PLA from plastic is approx. 122%, but if companies import straws, the cost of PLA and paper straws increases by 259% and 278% respectively. Brands like Mother Dairy have made a conscious call to limit the use of plastic. There have been no plastic spoons and loose straws for the past three years. “The brand has replaced all plastic spoons with wooden spoons and will replace the currently available straws with carton straws which are in the implementation stage. We launched the plastic waste collection and recycling/co-processing initiative in FY2018-19,” says Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable. To meet the challenge of banning the use of plastic straws, Uflex Ltd. will start manufacturing of Uflex Ltd.’s liquid packaging brand, Aspto, Flexible Packaging Material Solution and Polymer Science Company.

U-shaped paper straws for aseptic liquid packaging business. The manufacturing line is being set up at the Aseptic Liquid Packaging Plant in Sanand, Gujarat. The paper straw manufacturing line will offer a production capacity of approximately 2.4 billion straws annually for part packs for juices and other beverages.