Straw in the wind for tetra brands as govt denies relief on use of plastic

The Rs 6,000-crore small tetra pack industry, comprising beverages brands, is worried after the government refused to relax its stand on banning plastic straws. The ban on use of plastic straws in small tetra packs meant for juices, dairy products and ready-to-drink coffee will come into effect on July 1.

The move is likely to hit brands such as Pepsico, Dabur, Parle, Paper Boat , Amul, Mother Dairy, Aarey, Verka and Nestle among others. Around 6 billion small tetra packs—ranging from 75 ml to 250 ml—are sold in the country annually.  

The government banned single use plastic in 22 products—spoons, straws, forks and plates among others from July 1 but the small tetra pack industry had sought an exemption on the plastic straw ban from the government, citing practical challenges.  On Thursday, the government rejected the industry demand for an exemption.

Companies have argued that there is no clear alternative to plastic straws and the government mandate on paper straws is unworkable. For one, it’s tough to insert paper straws into tetra pack. The industry has also pointed out how it’s a problem when paper straws touch a cold surface. Tetra packs help in sustainable distribution as they have a shelf life of over six months compared to PET bottles which have a much shorter span in summer.

The companies are expected to petition the ministry of environment to seek 12-18 months of exemption so that they can look at possible alternatives to plastic straws. Currently, the cost of paper straw is seven to eight times that of a plastic straw, according to company executives.  

The companies, through Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC), have been asking the government to exempt them from such a ban. Pointing out that the industry is exvaluating the next steps, Praveen Aggarwal, CEO of AARC, said, ‘’we are concerned about the impact on millions of consumers who may not have access to affordable and safe food like milk, juices and ORS.’’ He added that the industry appreciates the government mission to create a litter-free country but there are no alternatives to integrated straws that are food safe and commercially viable.      

Many countries including China, Malaysia, and Australia have allowed the use of plastic straws.

About 80 per cent of the tetra packs come back with plastic straws for recycling, according to companies. They have also argued that integrated plastic straws, which are used in small tetra pocks, account for only 0.05 per cent of the total single use plastic in terms of volumes.