Get All Access for $5/mo

Why Beverage Companies Are Resisting Immediate Plastic Straw Ban Beverage companies have requested the government to delay the ban as the move will affect the ease of doing business. Companies cite that the required infrastructure for implementing the ban is not in place

By Shrabona Ghosh

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Pexels

Beverage companies have requested the government to delay the ban on plastic straws, effective 1 July.

In August 2021, the Central government announced a ban on single-use plastic, to contain pollution. In February this year, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said the ban would take effect from 1 July.

Beverage companies have requested the government to delay the ban as the move will affect the ease of doing business. Companies cite that the required infrastructure for implementing the ban is not in place.

Dairy heavyweight Amul alone needs 1.2 million plastic straws everyday. "We have written a letter to the environment secretary on the proposed ban on single use plastic straw. The plastic straw in our buttermilk and lassi is attached to a tetra pack. It is part of primary packaging. So we have urged the environment ministry to include it as part of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycling," said R S Sodhi, MD of Amul.

"There is no infrastructure in India to manufacture such volumes," Sodhi told TOI.

Earlier, beverage company Parle Agro, the owner of brands such as Frooti and Appy, urged the government to extend the deadline to implement the ban on plastic straws by six months. The company said it needs that much time to set up infrastructure in the country. "We have started importing paper straws, however, this is not a sustainable move as the cost of importing is really high," said Schauna Chauhan, CEO of Parle Agro.

The move by the government comes close to a time when the country's pollution levels and environmental concerns are at an alarming level. Plastic straws are not only non-biodegradable, but they are also very difficult to recycle and often get deposited in the landfills and oceans. It's estimated that 8 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year, and 1.15–2.41 tonnes of it is carried down major rivers around the world.

At a time when companies are looking towards paper straws as an alternative to plastic straws, Bamboo straws too fit the bracket. Bamboo straws are anti-bacterial and reusable and Bamboo is also one of the fastest growing plants on earth, which makes it a sustainable material.

Shrabona Ghosh

Correspondent

A journalist with a cosmopolitan mindset. I lead a project called 'Corporate Innovations' wherein I cover corporates across verticals and try to tell stories on innovations. Apart from this, I write industry pieces on FMCGs, auto, aviation, 5G and defense. 
Business Process

How CEOs Can Take Control of Their Emails and Achieve Inbox Zero

Although there are many methodologies that leaders can use to manage their emails effectively, a consistent and thought-through process is the most effective way to systemize and respond to emails and is a step of stewardship for the effective leader.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Employee Experience & Recruiting

There's a Growing Demand For This New Type of Professional — Here's Why Your Startup Needs Them, Too.

As startups evolve, a new breed of talent — the "boulder climber" — is emerging: adaptable professionals who balance strategic vision with hands-on execution. Learn why these versatile hires are redefining success in lean, agile teams.