UK and India collaborate on sustainable plastics through CII-Innovate UK GBIP

India's Waste to Wealth Mission, launched in 2021, focuses on creating circular economy models for waste management. Recent changes to the Plastic Waste Management Rules and new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines highlight India's commitment to increasing recycling and reducing single-use plastics. As the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector continues to grow, the issue of flexible packaging waste has become increasingly important.

The GBIP features companies from the UK that are innovating in sustainable plastics and circular economy practices. Peter Knight from 17Cicada presented a microbial technology that recycles plastic waste into bioplastics, aiding sustainable packaging development. Mark Lapping from Aquapak Polymers introduced Hydropol, a polymer that improves packaging recyclability and compostability. Connor Winter from Circular11 shared ideas on recycling plastics meant for landfills into building materials, offering an alternative to timber.

John Marchant from Less& spoke about the Beat The Sachet initiative in India, providing alternatives to single-use sachets that contribute to plastic pollution. Edward Kosior from Nextek explained their recycling processes for various plastics, including LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, and PET, aimed at improving quality of post-consumer plastic recyclate and reducing carbon footprints. Sophie Walker from Open 3P talked about a standard for packaging data that enhances accuracy and efficiency in data collection across the industry. Gopal Jeyasundra from Organicco described their technology that turns non-recyclable plastics and organic waste into products like refined oils and aviation fuel.

David Landsberg from Peasy introduced SmartSegregation signage, which makes waste sorting interactive through QR codes. Phil Bisby from Polytag highlighted improvements in plastic recycling efficiency using QR codes and UV tags for better traceability. Jack C. Guo from Protonera shared technology that converts waste plastics into low-carbon hydrogen and other valuable products. Annabelle Cox from Tensei discussed using crop residues and food waste to create new materials, supporting a low-carbon economy. William Richards from Bob presented a refillable body wash applicator designed to cut down on plastic waste from personal care products.

The GBIP acts as a platform to enhance UK-India collaboration on different topics including sustainable plastics. With UKRI-funded projects laying the foundation, both nations are working towards shared sustainability goals. This partnership presents significant opportunities for innovation in sustainable plastic packaging, addressing waste management issues, and advancing the transition to a circular economy. The CII’s-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development supported Innovate UK in delivering the GBIP on sustainable plastics.