Cigarette makers switched to biodegradable packaging, pending the plastic ban
New Delhi:
Cigarette manufacturers have moved from regular plastic packaging to environmentally friendly biodegradable packaging for cigarette packaging, well ahead of the ban on single-use plastics, the industry association Tobacco Institute of India said Friday.
The Tobacco Institute of India (TII) also praised the “proactive steps” the government has taken to reduce its environmental impact by banning certain single-use plastic items.
TII represents cigarette manufacturers such as ITC, Godfrey Phillips India, VST Industries along with farmers, exporters and suppliers of the cigarette segment of the tobacco industry in India.
The ban on single-use plastics, announced last year, took effect from Friday.
Speaking to the industry, TII said in a statement, “Its members who make cigarettes have switched from regular plastic packaging to biodegradable packaging for cigarette packaging well in advance.” The biodegradable material used meets international standards and the recently released BIS standards, it added.
“Biodegradation of the biodegradable plastic starts when it comes into contact with the soil. This material is extremely beneficial as it would also biodegrade naturally in landfills. The biodegradable plastic will not burden the collection and solid waste recycling system,” said TII. †
It would also reduce costs associated with plastic waste collection, plastic waste recycling and industrial composting, the TII statement added.
