Food Ministry bans the Use of Single-Use Plastics in its Premises

The Food Ministry has banned the use of single-use plastics in all its premises and all public sector undertakings under its control. The ban is to go into effect from September 15. 

What has happened?

• Following a meeting headed by the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister, Ram Vilas Paswan,  the food and consumer affairs ministry has decided to ban the use of single-use plastics in the various departments, premises and public sector undertakings under the Food Ministry’s control.
• This blanket ban will also extend to all types of single-use plastic products in the Food Corporation of India and the ban will start from September 15.

Will the ban work?

• To ensure that consumers are not needlessly put in limbo due to the ban, the minister has asked the officials to make alternate arrangements for plastics in all places.
• To ensure the success of the ban, the food department has committed to the distribution of cloth bags to all employees of the food department.
• The single-use plastics rarely degrade on time and pollute the environment.

What is the food ministry planning?

• The Food ministry of India is planning to source the use of cloth or jute bags for the use as a viable alternative to the plastic bags.

Not only will such bags provide a viable and eco-friendly alternative to the plastics but they will also provide a sustainable source of employment and livelihood to the women of Rural India as these cloth bags are sourced from the various women Self-Help groups in the surrounding regions.