Why in news? A U.K.-based start-up, based at Imperial College in London, claims to have developed a technology that could alter the state of plastics and make them biodegradable

Highlights:

What is biotransformation technology?

• Biotransformation technology is a novel approach to ensure plastics that escape refuse streams are processed efficiently and broken down.
• Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which the manufactured material looks and feels like conventional plastics without compromising on quality.
• Once the product expires and is exposed to the external environment, it self-destructs and bio transforms into bioavailable wax. This wax is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO₂, and biomass.
• This biotransformation technology is the world’s first that ensures polyolefins fully biodegrade in an open environment causing no micro plastics.

Is this being used in India?

• Food and packaging, healthcare and pharma industries provides biodegradable solutions for non-woven hygiene products like diapers, sanitary napkins, facial pads, etc.

What are initiatives taken by India to reduce single use plastic ?

• The government imposed a ban on single-use plastics to bring a stop to its use in the country.
• The National Dashboard on Elimination of Single Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management brings all stakeholders together to track the progress made in eliminating single-use plastic and effectively managing such waste.
• An Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal helps in improving accountability traceability, and facilitating ease of compliance reporting in relation to EPR obligations of the producers, importers and brand-owners.
• India has also developed a mobile app to report single use plastics grievances to check sale, usage or manufacturing of single use plastics in their area.