The sharp growth of wooden cutlery in the plastic ban century in India

India is one of the world's largest producers of plastic garbage, producing more than 3.5 million tons per year, and more than a third of this is not recycled, which causes a health and environmental nightmare for the country. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the Indian government implemented legislation prohibiting the use of single-use plastic items. This rule includes fines and confiscation for all single-use plastic purchases and uses, such as straws and plastic bags.

The opportunity for Wood & bamboo products

The government's prohibition has aided in the development of a new consumer trend in the Indian market. That is, to use eco-friendly flooring materials such as wood, paper, and bamboo. According to Justdial data, 80% of searches are for producers and suppliers of wood items. The market for wooden utensils developed swiftly and extended to include nearly all types of items such as spoons, forks, knives, trays, and so on.

Starting on July, 19 single-use plastic products, including forks, spoons, straws, trays, and earplugs, as well as wrapping or packaging on candy boxes and cigarette packs and high-quality PVC banners less than 100 microns thick, would be forbidden in India. Despite having planned for the circumstance, many suppliers state that they do not have enough products to meet all demands.

Wooden cutlery manufacturers in Moradabad, Saharanpur, Delhi, and Kolkata claim they are receiving 25% more orders than a few months ago. Import demand for these items also increased by 35% when compared to prior data.

Effective in the long run?

During the first year of the strategy, the efficacy of the solution was proved in part by an increase in the usage of ecologically friendly items. However, after only a short time, everything returned to normal. So, what is the cause of this failure? There are three primary explanations for this occurrence.

1. Alternative options price

Although considered the best alternative to plastics, wooden utilities have significant drawbacks when compared to plastic utilities. The expense of wooden utilities is the most crucial factor that makes them difficult to compete with plastic items. Wood-based products can cost consumers two or three times as much as plastic. The reason for the higher price is that wood requires a more complicated and expensive process to create a standard product like a spoon, whereas plastic requires a lot smaller quantity. Another issue is the expense of maintenance. While plastic products do not require much to maintain in good condition for a long time, eco-friendly products such as wood, bamboo, or paper can mold or degrade quickly if not stored properly. This raises the already high price of non-plastic alternatives even further.

2.Quality and living habits of citizen

Plastic ban solutions appear to be quite effective, yet they have a few unexpected adverse effects. People in the middle and lower classes tend to toss more plastic debris in order to avoid getting punished. As a result, the rate of reuse and recycling lowers as well. When the majority of the products on the restricted list are low-class common items like packaging or straws, the situation is growing increasingly severe.

3. The lack of joining of the political apparatus

With a project as national and revolutionary as this, government engagement is obviously required. However, after enacting rules aimed at reducing plastic waste, India has not done much. When a large plan is implemented, it necessitates the participation of numerous parties to assure an objective vision as well as the interests of the people. Although the law has had a significant impact on the daily lives of millions of people, the government has made no plans to assist these individuals in balancing economic and environmental benefits. As a result, the problem cannot be solved from the root and will keep happening continuously.

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