Milk no longer in plastic pouches

Ban on plastic bags, which starts October 1, in Maharashtra is likely to face stiff opposition

Starting October 1, Mumbaikars may no longer get their daily milk in pouches, following the Maharashtra government¿s ban on the use of plastic bags, which includes milk pouches. The best alternative of milk pouches is tetra pack but involves higher cost. An empty 1-litre tetra pack costs the company Rs 5 and a half litre one Rs 3.

Other alternatives that the companies are considering are bottling and bulk vending machines. However, both would require time and investments in capital and real estate, said Rajeev RA, managing director of Maharashtra Rajya Shehkari Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit, better known as Mahananda Dairy.

Mumbai consumes approximately 40 lakh litres of milk every day - about 75 per cent of it in pouches. With about 125 brands scrambling for consumer attention, the market leader is Mahananda Dairy (6.5 lakh litres), followed by Aray, Gokul and Amul.

"It is not just Mumbai that will be hit but will fall in demand, milk prices are likely to soften across the country. Overall, the milk industry will have to take a hit," said Bharatbhai M Vyas, managing director of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), better known as Amul.

Rajeev said, "The government has given a notice period of 30 days to implement the ban on plastics including milk pouches. The industry is likely to make a representation within the month. A final decision on the ban will be taken then."

Mahananda hopes that government, if not revoke the ban, will at least give the industry some time to work out alternatives to plastic milk pouches.

"The bottles can be costing the consumer as the plastic packaging but initially a sizeable investment would be required to set up the bottling plant." Rajeev said.

Vyas, however, questions the whole idea of banning milk pouches under the ban of plastic bags. "About 99 per cent of the plastic milk pouches are recycled. As these are made with good uniform quality of plastic, these are recycled into garden hoses, etc. In every tonne of plastic scrap, pouches' are a small minority."

Further, Vyas adds, "the alternatives are expensive and not easy to implement." The Maharashtra government is likely to notify the ban on use of plastic bags in Mumbai, blaming it for the floods in the city.

Decision has been triggered following complaints of blockages of drainage system and storm water drains caused by plastic bags. The notification is likely to come in the next day or two, sources said.