Single-use plastic banned in India, alternatives you can use

The single-use plastic ban came into effect on July 1, 2022, across India. All the state governments are enforcing campaigns identifying and closing down units engaging in the production, distribution, stocking, and sale of such items.

Under Section 15 of the Environment Protection Act (EPA) and the bylaws of respective municipal corporations, violation of the ban will invite punitive action, including a fine or a jail term, or both.

This is not the first time a plastic ban has been effected in the country. In the past, there have been several bans on the manufacturing and use of plastics but those bans could not be successfully implemented.

Across the world, the month of July is celebrated as "Plastic Free July" which is a global movement against plastic pollution.

"Plastic Free July" is about encouraging people to be more aware of their plastic use and create a cleaner and greener world. This initiative aims to avoid all single-use plastic products in July and find alternatives that can become newer habits.

The SUP ban in India is a necessary initiative taken by the government for the country and our environment for a better life and future for humankind.

But in spite of the harm plastic does to our environment, we are habitual of using banned items like earbuds, plastic sticks for balloons, ice-cream sticks, plates, cups, glasses, forks, spoons, knives, stirrers, etc in our day-to-day lives.

While these objects are banned, we have to use alternatives that are eco-friendly, make our life hassle-free and protect our environment.

Here are a few alternatives to single-use plastics:

Stainless steel straws/paper straws

Dozens of plastic straws get accumulated every year therefore over a few years alternatives such as stainless-steel straws have come into the market. There are paper straws and for flexibility, reusable silicone straws are also there.

Reusable disposable items

A large number of disposable glasses, cups, spoons, and plates are made of plastic which ended up filling landfills each year. Over the past few years, many alternatives such as bamboo and jute plates and other reusable and disposable items are available on the market.

Also, glass to ceramic cups and lids are also available which are eco-friendly alternatives.

Eco-friendly containers

Glass containers and stainless-steel containers are reusable and compostable containers in place of plastic containers. They come in handy and can also be used for storage and carrying food.

Bamboo stirrers

Most corporate offices over the past few years have replaced plastic coffee/tea stirrers with those made of wood or bamboo. There are also stirrers that are made of herbs which are eco-friendly and great alternatives.

Fluid ear care products

Plastic cotton earbuds are advised by health professionals not to be used to clean ears as they harm the ear and can also cause infection. Now with the SUP ban, plastic cotton earbuds won’t also be available in the market.

According to a rough estimate, nearly 1.5 billion cotton buds are produced every year; an average person disposes of close to 415 buds every year.

So instead of earbuds, eardrops will be a great alternative for cleaning the ear. Eardrops clean the ear from the inside, and if someone is not comfortable with fluid ear washes there are also buds available made of paper and other alternative ear cleaning eco-friendly options too.