Bata to Say Tata to Additional Cost of Carry Bags: A Case Study of Catena of Cases Leading to Removal of Additional Cost on Carry Bags

Following a series of judgements in Chandigarh the additional prices levied by the companies and retailers on carry bag from their consumers has been declared as Unfair Trade Practice.

These judgments attract attentions towards a larger and a more pressing issue at hand. The major reason that compelled the companies to charge for their carry bags: plastic ban due to elephantine increase in plastic pollution, not just at a state level but globally.

Statistics collected by United Nations show that today we, globally produce plastic waste up to 300 Million Tones that is equivalent to the weight of the entire human population. This would mean that the earth is literally brimming plastic. The next question that arises is what is being done with such hefty amounts to plastic. United Nation states that only 9% of this plastic is being recycled, 12% is being incinerated and 79% of this waste is being dumped either in landfills, dumps or natural environment.

According to FICCI Average per capita consumption of plastic in India is about 11kgs, and is expected to be 20 kgs by 2020 as stated by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural gas.Polyethene bags were banned by the National Green Tribunal in India in 2008 and fine of Rs.5,000 was imposed in January, 2016.

Plastic poses a major threat to us even in our day to day lives. Apart from the humongous effect it has on the animals namely, being ingested by animals under the impression that it is food has led to death of many animals. It also however has detrimental effects on the heath of humans as Plastics are made up of a variety of toxic chemicals. As such, its uses and exposure are associated with a number of human health concerns. Chemicals leached from the plastics contain compounds like polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE), bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates. These chemicals have been established to upset the endocrine system and thyroid hormones and can be very destructive to women of reproductive age and young children.

All this comes to show why plastic ban, especially banning plastic bags in commercial use was banned by the National Green Tribunal.