The textile ministry has recommended relaxation in the Jute Packaging Material Act 1987. Sources close to the development said the proposal was under the consideration of the Cabinet and a decision would be taken soon.
Ministry sources said the Act could not be repealed as it would hurt a particular commodity. However, it would be relaxed so that other materials could be used along with jute, they added.
The chemicals and fertilisers ministry is of the view that in a market economy, manufacturers should have the liberty to use the material that they find convenient. At present, it is mandatory to use jute bags for sugar and foodgrain. However, according to the proposed relaxation, other materials might be allowed to be used for packaging some foodgrains up to certain quantity.
“The relaxation will be done because this year, while jute production is good, foodgrain production is expected to be high as well. So, there should not be a problem for the jute industry,” said the official.
It will also be a great incentive for the plastic industry. In fact, the chemicals and fertilisers ministry had recommended a repeal of the Act based on a technical study conducted by the Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE).
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The study, on the life cycle analysis of jute, paper and polymers, indicated that energy, chemicals and water consumed for production of these materials were the highest for paper, followed by jute and polymers. For preparation of sacks out of these materials, the consumption of energy, water and chemicals follows a similar pattern. In the process of preparation of sacks, pollutant emissions were the highest for jute, followed by paper and polymers.
Polymer/plastic sacks are more resistant compared to jute and paper. They also fare better on parameters of seepage, moisture resistance, aesthetics, performance in humid conditions, availability and cost. In fact, plastics are available at one fifth the cost of jute. Allaying the fear that polymers are an environmental hazard, based on the facts of the study, the ministry is of the view that polymer-woven sacks are fully reusable and recyclable.