Page 83 - Shashwat - Restoring Green Economy

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of collection and recycling of this stationery items, desks for schools,
waste, which should be borne by the and so on. Eventually, they redesigned
producer and not be passed on to the their entire product by adopting
government or the environment. completely biodegradable material.
Let us talk about Tetra Pak to So, we see that apart from
understand this concept better. Tetra minimizing environmental
Pak is a packaging and processing degradation, EPR also encourages
solutions provider. While it was producers and brands to reduce the
a resourceful innovation in food costs associated with EOL products
packaging that increased the lifespan by designing better, longer-lasting
and portability of fresh foods, the products, making them suitable for
material also led to tremendous an exchange, an upgrade or even
pollution. The fused materials take a for recycling. Further, under EPR,
very long time to be broken down by producers may also have a greater
natural bacteria and therefore, are say in how a company takes back its
material and ensuring its safe practically non-biodegradable.
recycling or disposal. EPR is also products and how recycling schemes
known as ‘Product Stewardship’ So, Tetra Pak came under a lot of operate, thereby enabling them to get
and extends the responsibility of criticism for the impact caused by better access to secondary materials
the producer beyond the point of their post-consumer waste. This led for their own supply chains.
sale of the product, that is, up to the the organization to try and take the Sustainability was earlier driven
EOL of the product. The idea behind responsibility of their products by by consumer preferences, and that
EPR is to encourage producers to working with various stakeholders is still relevant. However, brand
consider the EOL processing of across the country, such as collection owners now value sustainable
their products right from the design agencies and recyclers to collect the practices too, and not just to satisfy
stage, thereby designing products waste. They then worked to recycle the consumer. They understand its
which are both long lasting and easily their cartons into various products, importance to the planet, and that it
recyclable. There is a substantial cost such as roofing sheets, chipboards, is a fundamental requirement for the