Vinod Bhat
New Delhi: The 3rd Global Conclave on Plastic Recycling and Sustainability (GCPRS), along with an International Exhibition started today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
The four days event GCPRS recognised as India’s premier platform dedicated to plastic recycling and sustainability was inaugurated by Sh. Tejveer Singh, Secretary of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Addressing the inaugural function of 3rd GCPRS, the DCPC Secretary stressed upon concerted and aligned efforts to tackle the global problem of Plastic Waste.
Secretary of Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Sh. Singh underlined that the people across the world are working on solutions of Plastic waste in fragmented manner but it is the need of hour that we must align with global frameworks such as the UN Global Plastics Treaty.
He said the UN treaty on Plastics aims to create unified, binding approaches to production, usage, and waste management.
Mr. Singh also leveraged that we must also learn from global best practices and try to incorporate good technological practices for plastic waste management.
Stressing upon great importance of circular economy and environment friendly practices in Plastic Industry, Tejveer Singh said plastics and plastic recycling are an integral part of the economy and it should be a modern, technology-driven, high-value industry – not treated as dirty industry.
Commending the industry people for their steps towards bio-degradable plastic packaging Sh. Singh called upon Plastic Industries and their R&D arms to find enduring solutions for genuine concerns of plastic littering, especially smaller packagings which are not easy to pick and recycle.
He also exhorted for greater collaboration of industry and academia and assured help to catalyse this from the Department.
Enumerating role of waste collector as a significant stakeholder, Sh. Singh appealed to recognize the contribution of informal waste collectors who play a vital role in keeping our environment clean. The Secretary said as the economy evolves, we must integrate and formalize this workforce into the larger ecosystem.
The conclave is being jointly organized by the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA) and the Chemicals & Petrochemicals Manufacturers Association (CPMA) with the support of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
Furthermore, the event is also supported by the departments and ministries like Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industries, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
At the Conclave more than 400 exhibitors representing the latest advancements in plastic recycling technologies, machinery, sustainable materials, and waste management solutions are taking part. The event is expected to attract over 50,000 business visitors, including policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and sustainability professionals from India and abroad.
Apart from Industries and promoters related to Plastics and Petrochemicals sector several government and private aligned Educational and Research Institutions like Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), CSIR – National Physical Laboratory, SIDBI, School of Packaging SIESSOP are also participating in the event.
The conclave comes at a time when the plastic recycling sector is witnessing robust growth. The Indian recycled plastics market is projected to reach USD 3.81 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.95 per cent during 2024–2032. Globally, the waste plastic recycling market is expected to reach USD 80.5 billion by 2033, underlining the increasing importance of sustainable recycling technologies and circular business models.
