We the Plastic of India: Need and Greed
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APRIL 2025
In a country where the clash between rapid economic growth and environmental degradation grows more intense each year, plastic has emerged as both a symbol of convenience and a menace of permanence.
From Delhi’s clogged drains to Tamil Nadu’s mangroves, from the banks of the Ganga to the depths of the Arabian Sea, plastic waste is not just a pollution problem—it is a full-blown socio-ecological emergency.
India, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), generated over 3.5 million metric tonnes of plastic waste in 2022–23.
That translates to an average of 9,600 tonnes every single day, a staggering figure that has shown a consistent upward trend.
Notably, per capita plastic waste generation has more than doubled in five years, jumping from 700 grams to 1.6 kg per person annually.
This rapid growth is closely linked to increasing urbanisation, the increase of single-use consumer products, and the expanding digital economy, which is heavily reliant on packaging.
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Policy Ambition, Enforcement Deficit
The Government of India took a decisive step in July 2022 by banning several single-use plastic items, including straws, earbuds, and packaging films below 75 microns.
However, implementation remains inconsistent across states.
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... per capita plastic waste generation has more than doubled in five years...
Field reports reveal that illegal production and circulation of banned items continue unabated, particularly in peri-urban clusters where regulatory oversight is thin and alternatives are economically unviable for small vendors.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules, which place the onus of plastic waste collection and recycling on producers, importers, and brand owners.
EPR infrastructure refers to the systems, facilities, and processes set up to support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) — a policy approach where producers are made responsible for
the entire lifecycle of the products they manufacture, especially for take-back, recycling, and final disposal of their post-consumer waste.
While a welcome move in principle, EPR’s efficacy has been undercut by the lack of a robust monitoring mechanism and the continued reliance on voluntary disclosures by corporations.
For EPR to succeed, India must urgently develop a transparent digital tracking system and penal provisions for non-compliance.
Plastic Packaging: Designed for Disposal
An alarming 95% of India’s plastic packaging is single-use—much of it composed of multi-layered plastic (MLP), which is virtually non-recyclable with current technologies.
These flexible, low-cost, and highly effective packaging materials are widely used by the FMCG sector, which continues to expand its rural footprint.
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Field reports reveal that illegal production and circulation of banned items continue unabated...
Without mandatory design changes and investment in alternatives, this form of plastic will continue to evade waste streams, ending up in our soils, water bodies, and food chains.
From Rivers to Oceans: Plastic’s Unrelenting Flow
India is among the top contributors to marine plastic pollution globally, primarily through river systems like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra, which carry tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic into the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea annually.
This not only devastates aquatic biodiversity but also affects the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on fishing and tourism.
Inland too, the environmental damage is severe.
Around 20% of plastic waste is either burnt or landfilled, contributing to air pollution and groundwater contamination.
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...Also affects the livelihoods of coastal communities dependent on fishing and tourism
The burning of plastic waste releases carcinogenic toxins such as dioxins and furans, while leachates from dumpsites seep into groundwater, affecting drinking water in nearby areas.
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The Microplastic Invasion
Perhaps the most disturbing dimension of the plastic problem is its infiltration into the human body.
Microplastics—fragments smaller than 5mm—have been found in bottled water, seafood, table salt, honey, and even airborne dust.
A 2022 study in Delhi and Mumbai found microplastic particles in the lungs and bloodstream of urban residents.
With increasing evidence linking microplastics to inflammation, cancer risk, endocrine disruption, and neurological disorders, the health burden of plastic pollution may be significantly underestimated.
Children, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immunity are especially vulnerable, yet there is a glaring gap in public health discourse on this issue.
A Looming Crisis
Projections are grim. If current trends continue, India’s annual plastic waste is expected to triple to over 11 million tonnes by 2030.
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A 2022 study in Delhi and Mumbai found microplastic particles in the lungs and bloodstream of urban residents
The combination of lifestyle changes, e-commerce expansion, and limited behavioural shifts around plastic usage paints a troubling picture.
We are approaching a tipping point—ecologically, socially, and economically.
What Must Change
Strengthened enforcement and localised action: Environmental policies must be backed by stringent enforcement, especially at the municipal level.
Urban local bodies (ULBs) must be equipped and incentivised to monitor and implement bans effectively, with support from pollution control boards.
Incentivising alternatives: Subsidies and R&D support should be directed towards biodegradable packaging, reusable systems, and circular product design.
MSMEs and startups in sustainable packaging deserve targeted policy support.
Robust EPR infrastructure: A national digital platform for tracking plastic production, collection, and recycling is essential.
Non-compliant companies must face financial and reputational penalties.
Empowering the informal sector: Policies must move towards formal recognition of ragpickers, ensuring integration into waste management systems with health insurance, safety equipment, and legal protections.
Awareness and education: From school curricula to mass media, a public education campaign on plastic use and its alternatives can shift behavioural patterns, especially in urban and peri-urban settings.
Data-driven governance: India needs real-time, disaggregated data on plastic waste flows.
AI and remote sensing technologies can be leveraged to map leakage points and hotspots of mismanaged plastic.
Global collaboration: India must actively engage with the ongoing United Nations Global Plastics Treaty negotiations.
It must advocate for equitable responsibilities while holding global brands accountable for waste footprints in the Global South.
A Fork in the Path
India’s relationship with plastic is shaped by its developmental compulsions—affordable packaging, durable materials, and scalable distribution systems.
Yet these very features, unchecked, are becoming existential threats.
The country today stands at a fork in the path: it can either pioneer a new paradigm of sustainable plastic use and circular economy principles or be overwhelmed by the very waste it creates.
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It is a public health challenge, a labour rights concern, and a climate justice imperative
This is not just an environmental issue.
It is a public health challenge, a labour rights concern, and a climate justice imperative.
For a country that aspires to global leadership in climate action and green growth, plastic waste is a litmus test of governance, innovation, and moral resolve.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed.”
If India is to honour its ecological dharma, the time to act decisively on plastic is now.
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