Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman suggested that municipal corporations should work with start-ups for waste segregation.
“A lot of paper goes waste without getting recycled. You can invite start-ups and ask them for ideas about segregation,” she said, addressing the 56th Annual General Meeting and Paper Conclave that was organised by the Federation of Paper Traders’ Associations in Chennai.
The Union Minister said that there were issues affecting the industry which needed objective analysis. “The industry has to look beyond sustainability and take into consideration the environment,” she said.
“There is no dearth of degraded land in India. Degraded land away from the city should be looked at as a continuous source to cultivate raw material. ”
As a solution to increasing issues faced by farmers, she said that her ministry had recommended manufacturers to use the degraded land available away from the city to plant and replant trees. Timber from the trees could be used as raw material.
“The industry should present a plan to the government on the effective uses of degraded land. The plan provides farmers substantial return and is a constant supply of raw material,” she said. She launched an exclusive mobile application developed by the Federation of Paper Traders Associations.
Sanjay Singh, Chief Executive, Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division, ITC Ltd., said demand for paper and pulp would grow.
Speaking on sustainability of the industry, N. Gopalaratnam, chairman, Seshasayee Paper and Boards, said paperless office and paperless society were myths. “Paper and digital will co-exist,” he added.
