Plastic ban: Companies switch to paper straws
Companies have started integrating paper straws with small tetra packs after the government declined to extend the ban on plastic straws
Parul July 2, 2022
MORE IN News
Geopolitical situation, rise in crude & metal prices, heat wave to edge up WPI inflation: Economists
Indian economy resilient, fundamentals of stock exchanges very strong: NSE CEO
TRAI recommendations to help startups develop India-made products: Industry body
Govt warns against forward trade in pulses
Over $100 million in funding raised by 21 Indian startups in a week
FMCG and agro food companies selling packaged fruit juices and dairy products have shifted to paper straws despite higher costs as the ban on plastic straws come into effect from Friday. Most companies have now put integrated paper straws with their small tetra packs after the government declined their pleas to extend the ban on plastic straws for six months.
“Dabur has already commenced production of Real juice packs with integrated paper straws. We are committed to meeting the regulations and will ensure that all packs come with integrated paper straws,” Dabur India Executive Director-Operations Shahrukh Khan said.
The government’s ban on single-use plastics, including plastic straw, is going to be effective from July 1, 2022.
Earlier, raising their apprehensions, companies had said the country lacks the technology for manufacturing paper straws.
However, the domestic paper industry has rejected these claims.
Issuing a statement last week, the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association (IPMA) said the domestic paper industry has enough capacity and technological know-how to manufacture paper for making paper straws and other similar products.
Terming it as “factually incorrect”, IPMA President A S Mehta had said a “wrong impression” is being created that presently there is no Indian paper mill that can manufacture the required paper for making straws and opposed any extension of the deadline on this pretext.
Companies such as Parle Agro and Dabur have replaced plastic straws with imported paper straws, and are also working to develop domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Read More: Plastic ban: Imported paper straws to have cost implications, says packaged food industry
Earlier, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt Ltd had said it will be importing straws though these are four times more expensive than the existing plastic straws. Leading dairy cooperative Amul was working on manufacturing biodegradable straws.