We built houses made out of plastic waste
(Source Credits: Plastics For Change)
The global multi-layered packaging (MLP) market is on a steady rise, expected to reach USD 211.64 Million by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.60% from 2022 to 2029. These multilayer structures, consisting of three or more layers of materials like polyolefins, PET, PVDC, PA, EVOH, aluminium, paper, and more, cater to the packaging needs of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies constituting around 25% of all plastic packaging produced globally. However, their convenience comes at a cost to the environment.
Understanding Multilayered Plastics (MLPs):
It is a well-known fact that MLPs are notoriously difficult to recycle, and most urban local bodies are forced to pay substantial amounts to transport these low-value materials to waste-to-energy and cement plants for co-processing, where they are often burned under the guise of “energy recovery.” Due to the complexity of classification, layer separation, and the high costs associated with its treatments, approximately 2.6 million tons of multilayer packaging end up incinerated or sent to landfills annually.
Countries are scrambling to get a handle on this problem through new rules and regulations. The EU is leading the charge. Their laws demand that 65% of all packaging waste, including MLP’s, gets recycled by 2025. Other parts of the world are trying to crack down too, but it’s a patchwork of different approaches. The U.S. has no overarching federal law, so states like California are making their own rules about recycling rigid plastic packaging. Canada and Japan have laws setting high recycling targets for things like multilayered bottles and containers.
Australia’s approach is a bit different - they’ve got a voluntary program aiming to make all packaging 100% recyclable or compostable in just a few years. The Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC4) is also working to develop an internationally legally binding instrument to address the full lifecycle of plastics. With global multilayered plastic production expected to hit 6.5 million tons per year by 2027, these regulations are the first line of defense against this incredibly stubborn plastic menace.
Environmental Impacts:
Made from non-renewable fossil fuels, depleting finite resources
Energy-intensive production leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions
Improper disposal contaminates terrestrial and marine environments, exacerbating plastic pollution crisis
Social Impacts:
Low-income communities and developing nations disproportionately bear the burden of plastic pollution and inadequate waste management
Directly impacts livelihoods and working conditions of waste picker communities who rely on selling recyclable materials for survival
Inability to effectively recycle MLPs threatens the economic security of these vulnerable populations
Plastics for Change’s Innovative Solution to MLP waste:
MLP waste has plagued our environment for far too long. But at Plastics for Change, through our “Namma Mane” (Our Home) Project, we are transforming MLP waste into houses for informal waste collectors in India.
The “Namma Mane” Project is a dual-intervention initiative that combines environmental sustainability with social impact. This innovative method employed by us involves recycling MLP into housing panels, which serve as a sustainable replacement for cement. This not only diverts plastic waste from landfills and oceans but also provides affordable and durable housing solutions for those in need.
(Source Credits: Plastics For Change)
Partnerships for Impact
Plastics for Change has been partnering with various organizations to bring our vision to life. It all started with the construction of one home collaboration with The One Movement. Then, we joined forces with Kimberly-Clark to build 15 more homes in Karnataka. Now, we have teamed up with Garnier to construct more homes in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
If you want to be part of this remarkable initiative, you can support Plastics for Change by making a donation or partnering with us. By doing so, you’ll not only offset plastic waste but also create a lasting social impact by providing shelter to those who need it most.
Together, we can turn waste into homes and create a better future for both our planet and its people.