Food companies pledge to reduce plastic footprint

New Delhi, September 24

As many as 22 food firms including multinationals today pledged to reduce the plastic footprint after the Health Ministry made a pitch to rid the sector of single use plastic. “India must become free of single use plastic,” Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said today urging food companies to contribute to the campaign.

Vardhan was speaking at an event in Delhi where 22 food companies signed a pledge to reduce plastic footprint.

Vardhan said scientists at the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun have used a technology to successfully convert one tonne of plastic waste into 800 litres of diesel every day. “Such initiatives will have multi-fold benefits. They will reduce plastic waste and make it worthwhile and financially viable for rag pickers to collect plastic waste which can be converted into fuel,” said Vardhan. — TNS