IIT Roorkee Organises Uttarakhand Plastics Summit 2023 For Environmental Sustainability

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) hosted the Uttarakhand Plastics Summit 2023 in collaboration with the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board on 10 October 2023, at the MAC Auditorium. The summit, attended by dignitaries from the government and industry, reaffirmed IIT Roorkee's commitment to environmental sustainability. Over 250 industry representatives from various sectors participated in the event, including companies like Adani Cements, Century Plywood, ITC and Hindustan Unilever Ltd.

The summit aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a plastic-positive nation and aimed to foster a dialogue on industry and academia collaboration to fulfil the Extended Producers Responsibility Rules 2022 set by the Central Pollution Control Board. These rules emphasise recycling and reusing plastics through innovative technologies.

Prof K K Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee and Mihir Banerji, Secretary-General of the Plastics Packaging R&D Centre, were among the key attendees.  S.K. Pattnaik, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board and other delegates from government agencies and industries were also present.

The summit showcased the commitment of IIT Roorkee students through the TechSarthi scheme, where students addressed industry challenges related to recycling facilities. They developed a portal in collaboration with Regreen Ecosystem to create an ecosystem connecting Plastic Waste Producers with Plastic Waste Processors.

Cutting-edge technologies presented during the event included Environment-friendly Biodegradable Substitutes for Single-use Plastics, High-Efficiency Enzymes for Plastics Biodegradation and Converting Plastic Waste into Wealth. Initiatives like manufacturing paver blocks from plastic waste were highlighted, demonstrating how plastic waste can be transformed into valuable products.

Prof K K Pant urged attendees to commit to the principles of the Three R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle plastic waste, emphasising the importance of collaboration between Research & Development, industry and academia for sustainable solutions.

Mihir Banerji, the Chief Guest, stressed the significance of individual efforts in achieving a plastic-positive environment, while  Rajiv Bhaskar, Treasurer of the Indian Plastic Institute, called for investments in establishing a dedicated graduate centre for plastics research.

 S. K. Pattnaik, Member Secretary of the Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board, expressed optimism about creating a greener and more sustainable future through collective efforts and innovative solutions. The summit brought together stakeholders committed to addressing plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability. Faculty members and university officials, including Prof Sai Ramudu Meka, Prof Vivek Malik and Shinjinee Mishra, were also present at the event.