The world’s largest T-shirt has been fashioned out of two lakh plastic bottles collected by NGOs from across the city. The T-shirt measuring 97.5 metres in height and 70.08 in width and made using recycled plastic waste polyethylene terephthalate bottles has created a Guinness World Record.
Plastindia Foundation, the apex body of plastics industry in India, said it took up the initiative to create awareness of the need to manage plastics waste and recycle them more efficiently. It said it wanted to achieve sustainability through the optimal use of plastic waste.
The fabric from the T-shirt will be later used to create 10,000 T-shirts and will be distributed to children from the weaker sections of society.
Four-month process
K.K. Seksaria, president, Plastindia Foundation, said, “It was a four-month-long process, which included making the yarn, and stitching the T-shirt. Thousands of people were involved from all over India, and mainly from Mumbai because the project was being executed here.”
Mr. Seksaria said, “We have taken up this exercise to deliver this message to people, in a manner that it is etched in their minds. We have made the world’s largest T-shirt out of used plastic bottles within Mumbai. We want to show to the masses that whenever you see any plastic material or plastic article, they should not consider it as a waste material but a raw material of sorts.”
Mr. Seksaria added that the aim was to show that every plastic material can be a useful resource and it does not necessarily have to harm the environment if it is used in a responsible and sustainable manner. “Plastic is not bad and this has been proven today,” said Vimal Kedia, managing director, Manjushree Technopack Limited.
Atul Kanuga, chairman, Environment and Plastics Image Committee, said, “We cannot manage our day-to-day life without the use of plastics. Right from toothpastes to telephones and laptops. We ourselves are wearing plastic. Today, jeans are no more cotton, but made out of polyester.”
He said, “The challenge before us is the disposal of plastic. We are proud to say that India is one of the largest recyclers of plastic bottles and other plastics. This initiative is a big step towards educating people that articles can be made out of used plastics, they can be reused and recycled.”
