Edible oil in recyclable pouches to save thousands of tonnes of plastic

Edible oil manufacturer Adani Wilmar will soon replace all its packaging for edible oil in pouches from non recyclable polymers to recyclable polymers. Company uses 300 tonnes of plastic per month, which will be replaced by the end of March this year, a top company official said here on Tuesday.

The pouches needed to pack edible oil have a film of nylon to ensure that oil is insulated from outer atmosphere. This enables oil to preserve its aroma. However, nylon used is not recylable. Adani Wilmar has tied up with Vishakha Polyfab Private Ltd (VPPL) which will supply the packaging material with a special additive that enables the plastic to be recycled to make granules, which will be used to make other materials. While this will increase the cost of packaging, Angshu Mallick, COO of Adani Wilmar said the company will not pass on the cost to the customer. The use of recyclable material will be prominently displaced on the package.

“Non-reuse of packaging material was a major headache for us. We are glad that now it will be resolved,” said Mallick. The focus will now be on creating awareness among the rag pickers about the property of the packets and segregation so that these can be sent to proper recyling agencies.

BETTER MOVE

• Pouches needed to pack edible oil have a film of nylon to ensure that oil is insulated from outer atmosphere.