Scientists, experts discuss substitutes to single-use plastic

At CSIR-CFTRI, Mysuru, Director Sridevi Annapurna Singh said finding a suitable replacement for single-use plastic is a challenge due to food safety and protection from moisture. Panel discussions and technical sessions discussed alternatives like bamboo and paper for food packaging. The seminar is supported by CSIR-CFTRI and Amazon DEI Leader will speak on innovation at workplace.

CSIR-CFTRI Director Sridevi Annapurna Singh on Thursday, August 3, said finding a suitable replacement to single-use plastic is not a simple challenge since a lot of factors need to be looked into when it comes to food packaging. Besides, food safety issues also need to be considered while working out paper alternatives to plastic, she added.

“As food is a perishable product, the packaging material has to meet various factors like protection from moisture. By and large, the single-use plastic goes into the packaging of beverages and food products and the challenge is to find an alternate packaging materials for these products,” said Dr. Singh, in her address at the zonal seminar of Indian Pulp and Paper Technical Association (IPPTA) that got off to a start on the CSIR-CFTRI campus here.

Replacing single-use plastic by paper with emphasis on food packaging is the theme of the seminar, which is supported by the CSIR-CFTRI.

Stating that the threat to the environment from mounting plastic waste was huge, she said the plastic waste was expected to reach alarming proportions by 2050, and the magnitude of plastic waste dumped in oceans would be much larger. “The time may come when we find more plastic waste than fish in the sea. The plastic particles will enter human bodies too with the aquatic life getting too affected from the menace,” Dr. Singh cautioned.

“It’s challenging to find a suitable paper alternative to plastic but some clues can be found and worked upon in addressing the issue in a more comprehensive way. The challenge that we have is too big yet we can work together to find a solution,” the director said, while extending all support from the CSIR-CFTRI for finding a suitable replacement for single use plastic with emphasis on food packaging.

Earlier, Dr. Rajeshwar S. Matche, Chief Scientist, CSIR-CFTRI, who heads the Food Packaging Department, gave an overview of the seminar and challenges ahead with regard to packaging alternatives for food products.

IPPTA Honorary Secretary General M.K. Goyal expressed confidence in finding suitable paper alternatives to single-use plastic with the paper industry keen to join hands with the CSIR-CFTRI for the technology required for food packaging replacements.