As the world realises the inherent seriousness of climate change, the use of plastic has been recognised as one of the greatest environmental and health hazards of the 21st century. Now, exceeding the biomass of all land and marine animals combined, plastic waste has long-term implications on all aspects of the ecosystem, be it land, oceans or the atmosphere. Plastics also account for over 3 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
India, along with several of its global counterparts, has thus begun to take action to reduce plastic production, use and disposal, by banning single-use plastic and by strengthening waste management infrastructure. However, it will have to do much more to manifest its dream of eradicating plastic pollution forever.