2024年解决塑料污染：可持续发展路线图研究报告

Solving Plastic Waste: Roadmap for a Sustainable Future

Foreword

• Global Context: Plastics are essential for modern life, providing unparalleled versatility and cost-effectiveness. However, their widespread use has led to significant environmental, economic, and societal challenges.
• India-Specific Challenges: India generates 10-12 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with much of it either uncollected or poorly managed. The diversity of plastic waste types poses a challenge for effective recycling.
• Collaborative Efforts: Addressing the plastic waste crisis requires systemic efforts involving civic authorities, brand owners, processors, and material and machinery producers. Collaboration and supportive government regulations are crucial.

Executive Summary

• Plastics in Modern Life: Plastics are indispensable across various sectors, including packaging, automotive, and aerospace, due to their cost efficiency and strength-to-weight ratio.
• India’s Plastic Waste: India generates 10-12 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with significant portions unmanaged or misallocated.
• Key Priorities:
  • Design for Recycling: Encourage “design for recycling” in product innovation, focusing on mono-material designs and reducing non-recyclable components.
  • Recycling Infrastructure: Develop robust waste collection and sorting mechanisms and advance recycling technologies like mechanical and chemical recycling.
  • Alternate Materials: Explore biodegradable and bioplastic alternatives, though challenges in cost, functionality, and sustainability may limit their adoption.

Key Areas of Focus

1. Upstream Activities (Production, Conversion, Consumer Use)

   • Design for Recycling: Promote mono-material designs and reduce non-recyclable parts like metallization, colored labels, and adhesives.
   • Collaboration: Foster partnerships among plastic producers, machine manufacturers, converters, and brand owners to drive innovations in product design and material properties.

2. Midstream Activities (Collection and Sorting)

   • Waste Segregation: Enhance household-level waste segregation through awareness campaigns and community groups.
   • Recycling Infrastructure: Improve collection and sorting mechanisms to unlock the full potential of recycling.

3. Downstream Activities (End-of-Life Management)

   • Mechanical and Chemical Recycling: Advance recycling technologies to handle a broader range of plastic waste types.
   • Regulatory Enforcement: Implement stringent and effective regulations to support sustainable practices.

Conclusion

• Balancing Necessity and Environmental Stewardship: The goal is to balance the essential role of plastics with environmental responsibility, ensuring a cleaner, more resilient future for generations to come.

This roadmap outlines a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges posed by plastic waste, emphasizing the need for collaboration, innovation, and systemic changes to achieve a sustainable circular economy.