Dr Prasad ModakExecutive President, Environmental Management Centre
Director, Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation
May 29, 2020
Circular Economyin
Plastics
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Understanding Circular Economy
Resources
Production
Consumption
Waste
Cradle to Grave
• Consume Less• Dematerialize• Use renewable resources• Prefer local materials• Reuse, Extend product life• Recycle, Recover resources
Cradle to Cradle
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Economy and Waste Generation
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Working Definition of Circular Economy
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.
- European Parliament, (2015)3
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Circular Economy at Various Levels
National
Sector
City / Region
Company & Its Supply Chain Community
State
Industrial Estates
Mat
eria
l/En
ergy
Flo
ws Life Cycle Thinking
Working with Communities is Critical
Macro
Meso
Micro
Complexity, need for harmonization and coordination increases
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Global Agenda for Circular Economy – An Illustration
Circular EconomyUNEP
OECD
EU Japan
USA
ChinaInternational Panel on SRM 10FYP on SCP
WG Promoting resource productivity
CE Package and Action Plan EU 2020 Flagship Initiative on Resource Efficiency
Sound Material Cycle Society 20003R initiative
Beyond RCRA,Materials Management in 2020
Circular Economy Promotion Law (2009)
Threat to Resource Security and the Nexus with Climate Change not yet Mainstreamed
Let us turn to Plastic
9/38Dr. Prasad Modak Source: adapted from ten Brink et al. (2016)
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Life Cycle Perspective Foundation of Circular Economy
Valu
es a
nd Li
fest
yles
Product Design
Reduce Re-use & Recycle (3Rs)
Disposal
*Natural ResourceUse and Extraction
Manufacturing Consumption/Use
Distribution/ Marketing
Life Cycle Perspective
Planning and Strategies
• Fiscal Instruments• Laws & Régulations• Education & Awareness Raising • Sustainable Public Procurement
Market Forces→ Governments & Major Groups (such as Business & NGOs)
• Pricing / Marketing • Quality • Corporate Environmental & Social Responsibility
•Consumer Behaviour & Information
• Sustainable Private Procurement
Tech
nolo
gica
l and
So
cial
inno
vatio
n
• Investments
Conducive policy framework – governance at various levels
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Per Capita Plastic Products Consumption (kg/person)
Source :AIPMA and Plastindia, TATA Strategic Analysis
Is it a good news or bad news?
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DEALING WITH USED PLASTICS – a Conceptual evaluation
Pyrolysis
Repurpose
Gasification
Roads/Benches
Fuels/Oil
MONOMERS
EnergyCo-Processing
Special Additives• Biodegradable• Compostable• Any Other
Industrial Composting Compost
COLLECTEDPLASTICS WASTE
Recycle/Upcycle New Products
Kilns
Cracking
Plant-based Land Blockage Expensive
ANGER PROTESTS
BANS on SUPs
conversion
POLYMER(Resin)
MONOMER
Normal Additives
Petro-Based
PLASTICS
UNCOLLECTED WASTEVisible Litter
Consumer Behavior
Administration Efforts
Single Polymer Plastics
Syngas
Source: Dr Vijay Habbu
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Single Use Plastics
• Light weight• Almost 36% is used in Packaging.
Problem: • Ends up in storm-
water drains, landfill or ocean.
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Ban /Levy - a solution?
State wide bans on single-use plastic bags, and Queensland
4 years of jail /$38,000 fine
Full stop to plastic microbeads /although still permitted to be manufactured and imported for non-prescription drugs
Source :UNEP;Greenpeace;national governments
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Plastics in the war against COVID-19 source: Dr Vijay Habbu
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Plastics litter management : EPR perspective
EACH CATEGORY OF PLASTIC NEEDS A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK : Source Dr Vijay Habbu
PLASTICS-BASED ARTICLES EXAMPLES Litterability (instinct to discard) –
weight/size dependent
Collectibility/ Retrievablity
(from the wayside litter) Recyclability
EPRobligation
CATEGORYOF
PACKAGINGCOMPLEXITY
OF PACKAGING
PACKAGING NON-PACKAGINGFood, water, personal care, beverages, pharmaceuticals,
Personal hygiene, other articles
RIGID
Single Polymer Bottles, drumsLarge articles (overhead tanks, furniture), crockery, pipes, combs
Low High EASY Low
MLP type-1 =Multi Polymer Pouches with spouts
bangles, frames, cutlery, marker pens, tooth brushes, white goods
Low High Medium Medium
MLP type-2 =Multi-Material
Blister packaging, Brick cartons footwear, razors Low High Difficult High
FLEXIBLE
Single Polymermilk pouches, carry bags, envelope covers, wrappers
cables, wires, dental floss High Low Easy Medium - High
MLP type-1 =Multi Polymer toothpaste/ointment tubes High Medium Medium High
MLP type-2 =Multi-Material
wafer packets, pouches,shampoo sachets, Toys High Low Difficult Very high
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The Informal Sector, EPR & Partnership Models
UNDP, Hindustan Coca Cola, Unilever
Extended Consumer Responsibility?Behaviour change needs compelling alternatives
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Design for Sustainability (D4S) – Packaging
Harmonizing Packaging Formats
Reduce Material Complexity
Streamlining SKU
Increasing the Recycled Content
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Plastics CE commitments by brands – replacement targets (source Dr Vijay Habbu)
USE OF RECYCLED By 2020
• Ecover (cleaning products)
By 2021• SC Johnson , reusing and recycling
By 2025• McDonald’s , renewable, recycled• Danone water bottle used by the Evian brand
By 2030• Coca-Cola
USE OF RECYCLABLE• By 2025
• Amcor (packaging company) recyclable or reusable
• Unilever• Walmart , packaging for its private-brand
products would be recyclable• L’Oréal’s , rechargeable, refillable,
recyclable or compostable
100% Commitment on Plastic Packaging
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Risks of RecyclingGrundmann, V., Bilitewski, B., Zehm, A., Darbra, R. and Barceló, D. (2013). Risk-based management of chemicals and products in a circular economy at a global scale- impacts of the FP7 funded project riskcycle. Environmental Sciences Europe. 25(1), 14. https://doi.org/10.1186/2190-4715-25-14.
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Technology
Sorting
Cleaning
Upcycling
Recovery (by-products and energy)
• Downcycling Blending/Composites (Waste out?)
• Aggregation & Logistics
• Scaling up & Localization
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Common Circular Infrastructure
Supply Volatility
Transportation & Logistics
Technology
Financial Models
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Financing for Innovation
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Companies with Circular Business Models
Collaborative Consumption Product Extension Remanufacturing Resource
Recovery Dematerialisation
Gives toys ,games ,books on rent.
Reusable bottles whichcan be used for long time.
Converts all types of plastics into pellets by purchasing plastic waste & scrap in various forms.
Modular carpetsusing plastics
Reduces amount of plastic in packaging
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Circular Economy in India
Indian Resources Panel (InRP), 2015 Strategy Paper on Resource Efficiency by NITI Aayog, 2017 EU-India Cooperation and Support from GIZ, 2017-2020 Status Report and Recommendations on Circular Economy by NITI
Aayog – drafted by EMC, 2019 Resource Efficiency Cell at MoEFCC, 2019 Draft National Policy on Resource Efficiency MoEFCC, 2020 State level CE Plan by Goa, 2020
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Indian Forest Act
1927Water
Pollution Act1974
Environment (protection) Act1986 (amended
1991)
Forest (conservation)
Act1980
Island Protection
Act 2011
Clean Technology
Scheme 2013
Labelling of Environment
Friendly products (ECOMARK)
1991
National Forest Policy
1988
Abatement of Pollution
1992
National Environment
Policy 2006
National Design Policy2007
National Population Policy
2000
Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation Act1957 (amended
2015)
National Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016
National Manufacturing
Policy2011
Sustainable Development Framework
2011
National Urban Sanitation Policy
2008
National Mission on Sustainable
Habitat 2010
Indian Electrical Equipment Industry
Mission Plan 2012-2022
Software Technology
Parks Scheme 1991
Batteries Management and
Handling Rules 2001 (Amended
2010)
Hazardous Wastes (Management , Handling
and Transboundary Movements) Rules 2008
E-waste (Management & Handling) Rules
2011
Electronics (ESDM) Electronics
Manufacturing Cluster Scheme
2012
Electronics and IT Goods
(Requirements for Compulsory
Registration) Order 2012
National Information Technology
Policy 2012
Electronics ESDM-Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (M-SIPS)
2012
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Dept. of Heavy Industry
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
Ministry of Steel Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
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National Agroforestry
Policy2014
REDD- Plus policy2014
Waste Management
Rules 2016
National Steel Policy2017
Pradhan Mantri Khanji Kshetra Yojna
2015
National Steel Policy
2015
National Industrial Policy
2017
Draft National Mineral Policy
2018
Mineral Conservation and Development
Rules 2017
Urban and Regional Development Plans
Formulation and Implementation Guidelines
2014
Swachh Bharat Mission
2014
National Electric Mobility
Mission Plan 2020
Start Up India2015
Make in India2014
Export Promotion (Duty Exemption Schemes) of Iron and Steel Products
[Foreign Trade Policy 2015-2020]
Guidelines for Environmentally
Sound Management of
ELVs2015
Providing Preference to Domestically Manufactured
Iron & Steel Products in Government Procurement
2017
Steel and Steel Products (Quality Control) Order
2018
Public Procurement (Preference to Make
In India), Order2017
Digital India Program 2015
Guidelines on Environmental
Management of Construction and
Demolition (C&D) Wastes2017
Smart Cities2015
Ministry of Mines
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Dept. of Heavy Industry
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ministry of Steel
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
Indian Environmental Governance is more Residue Centric and not focusing
on Resource Management
Less Emphasis on D4S More on Recycling
Upstream thinking is missing
There have been several CE enabling initiatives in place
But in Silo, Need to be Harmonized and Coordinated
Less Emphasis on D4S More on Recycling
Upstream thinking is missing, especially on chemicals
Informal sector plays an important role in India’s Circular Economy
How can we formalize/strengthen India’s informal sector?
Business in Circular Economy is still not understood the opportunities on
innovation and investment perspectives
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We need a Rounded ApproachBe
Inclusive
Partner
Build credible
data
Promote new technologies &
Business Models
Enforce & Report
Finance
Build Capacities
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The 12R’s of Circular Economy
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If you don’t have a conductor, you get the noise and not sweet music