Traders hopeful of alternative packaging to replace plastic

Chennai

Manufacturers of these products, meanwhile, expressed confidence that they will soon come up with alternative solutions that can replace banned items. “When the ban on plastic paper, cups and water sachets was imposed last year, we had been urging the State government to ban plastic used for wrapping biscuits and chips like Lays and Kurkure as well, as it is unhealthy. This order, as part of the move to eliminate use-and-throw plastics, is most welcome. People are spoiling their health by eating from such unhealthy plastics. Only the manufacturers will be affected by this decision,” said S Soundarajan, South Chennai President of Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai.

“Whenever the State comes out with such decisions, the retailers follow the instructions. They will not be affected in this situation too,” said a retailer adding that in times of pandemic the people should be conscious about how their food items are packaged.

“We are ready to accept any government decision, especially in this situation. The immunity level is decreasing among the public as they are consuming unhealthy packaged noodles and chips,” said Saravana Raj V, who runs a supermarket at Ekkatuthangal.

He said that earlier, they were selling plastic teacups and soft drink cups. “After the government order, they have stopped selling all these items. Now the manufacturers will soon have different packaging to replace banned wrappers in the next few days,” he said.

Even the goods manufacturers are not opposing the government decision. Many of them said they will soon come up with alternative ways of packaging. “The materials we use are reprocessable plastics. Whatever the government order states, we will be following that. Soon, there will be an alternative packaging for the food items we manufacture,” said Amit Vaishnav, managing director of Megafoods Products Madras Pvt Ltd.