Pakistan goes for oxo-biodegradable products

In a historic move, Pakistan introduced a legislation that prohibits the import, manufacturing, stockpiling, trade, supply, distribution, sale and use of all disposable plastic products that are not oxo-biodegradable. The legislation known as “Prohibition of Non-degradable Plastic Products (Manufacture, Sale and Usage) Regulations 2013” has banned disposable plastic products made wholly or substantially of polyethylene or polypropylene or polystyrene unless they are oxo-biodegradable. The legislation, announced by the federal minister for Climate Change, is expected to take effect from April 2013.

The Minister said that the Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency (PAK-EPA) had considered various options in dealing with the issue on plastic bags. These included a complete ban on plastic bags, the introduction of photo-degradable plastic bags, hydro-soluble plastic bags and oxo-biodegradable plastic bags. PAK-EPA preferred and recommended that oxo-biodegradable technology be used.

The meetings between the Ministry of Environment and the Plastic Bag Manufacturers Association – including users and exporters – yielded a consensus to use the oxo-biodegradable technology as plastic bags made with this technology, if left in open air or water absorb oxygen, which gradually weakens the internal bonds of the plastic material to allow biological degradation to occur. Eventually, the bag will vanish leaving behind humus (a non-toxic product), according to the Minister.

The PAK-EPA report further showed that in 2004 about 55 billion plastic bags were being manufactured and consumed annually in Pakistan and that if such trends continue, plastic bags consumption would reach a staggering 112 billion by 2015.

A serious look at environment protection

There are more than 8,000 plastic bag factories operating in Pakistant. The preference to use the oxo-biodegradable technology is simple and needs no alteration in machinery or in the manufacturing process. A small quantity of olefin-based additive is mixed with the raw material (granules) to develop biodegradable properties in plastic.

To date, PAK-EPA has approached local and multinational companies as itaims to encourage the production and use of oxo-biodegradable plastic bags. Other organisations like the Lahore and Karachi Chamber of Commerce also held workshops on biodegradable plastics to create awareness among entrepreneurs. As a result, a number of users of plastic bags, which include popular fastfood chains and stores, have started oxo-biodegradable plastic bags as part of their social responsibility.

This move by Pakistan was welcomed by the Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association. Hertfordshire-based advanced plastic technologies specialist, Symphony Environmental Technologies also supports the legislation. However, the company noted that the new law has a wider implication since it not only prohibits the manufacture of traditional disposable plastic products in Pakistan, but also restricts the import of such products into Pakistan. This means that all companies anywhere in the world exporting disposable plastic products to Pakistan made from or packaged in conventional or bio-based PE, or PP, or in PS must make and/or package them in future with oxo-biodegradable plastic technology from a supplier registered with the Pakistan Government. Symphony said that it is bringing this to the urgent attention of its distributors, which serve more than 90 countries around the world.

“This legislation is an important step forward for Pakistan in protecting its cities, lands, waterways and coasts from the blight of plastic pollution, because it is not possible to collect or control all of the plastic, which would otherwise lie or float around in the environment for decades. The Government of Pakistan has not banned plastic altogether, as it is a low-cost material essential for everyday living, anNike HyperRev 2017