Reconsider ban on single-use plastics

Plastic product producers on Monday urged the government to reconsider its decision to ban single-use plastic (SUP) products, highlighting the potential economic and social fallout from such a move.

During a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), leaders of the plastic industry expressed concerns about the lack of alternative products and the possible negative impacts on various sectors, including export, trade, packaging, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Shamim Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and Abu Motaleb, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Packaging and Roll Manufacturing Owners Association, both spoke at the event.

They emphasised that approximately 1.3 million small traders involved in the sale of plastic products could be adversely affected, noting that the industry generates around Tk 400 billion in government revenue annually.

A sudden ban on 17 types of single-use plastic items would also put a large number of workers at risk of unemployment, they warned.

Recently, the government has categorised 17 hazardous single-use plastic products that will be phased out, including cigarette filters, fast food wraps, plastic bottles and caps, straws, stirrers, disposable utensils and cutlery, styrofoam food packaging, and melamine foam sponges. This decision was issued in an August 2024 circular by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Industry leaders called for a comprehensive economic impact analysis of the decision, involving all stakeholders, before any definitive action is taken.

They also proposed increasing recycling and reuse efforts, rather than an outright ban, to protect the environment while safeguarding the livelihoods tied to the plastic industry.

Shamim Ahmed pointed out that past efforts to ban plastic bags in 2002 had failed, as the production of affordable, quality alternatives remained elusive.

He underscored the essential role plastic plays in various sectors, noting that under the Food Safety Act, iodized salt cannot be packaged without plastic, and vitamin A fortification in edible oil also requires plastic containers. Additionally, products such as liquid milk and even tree saplings depend on plastic packaging, making SUP indispensable in certain contexts.

The plastic industry representatives urged the government to align its SUP phase-out strategy with the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) resolution, which calls for global efforts to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030.

They argued that a gradual approach, combined with robust recycling initiatives like those in Japan, would strike a balance between environmental sustainability and economic viability.

They said the government's initiative to add vitamin A to edible oil, as well as the packaging of liquid milk, depends on plastic containers to protect these products from UV rays, which would otherwise spoil them. Furthermore, maintaining the quality of medicine and adhering to international standards also necessitates plastic packaging.

The government has already taken initial steps, banning plastic bags in supershops starting October 1, with efforts to halt polythene usage in 10 Dhaka markets by November 1.

However, plastic manufacturers stressed that for the ban on shopping bags to be truly enforceable, alternative bags must be made affordable.

They suggested raising public awareness, including environmental education programmes, and investing in waste management infrastructure to turn plastic waste into resources.

Abu Motaleb, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Packaging and Roll Manufacturing Owners Association, said that plastic itself is not inherently bad. Different grades of plastic are available, and the real issue lies in waste management.

He criticised the inefficiency of city corporations, pointing out that half of their garbage collection vehicles are often out of service, and they fail to collect plastic waste separately.

Motaleb and other industry leaders called for greater investment in waste management, urging the government to enhance local governments' capacity, provide necessary equipment, and adopt fair policies to address the issue.

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