The manufacturers' representatives Jehanzeb Jilani, Faisal Malik, Aleem Ahmad and Faisal Qadri expressed these views while addressing a press conference at Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Friday. They said over 8000 factories of polythene bags are providing direct or indirect employment to millions of people.
The polythene bags sector is also among the top five revenue generating sectors of Pakistan. It is also backbone of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cottage industry.
They said their association has its own research and development cell and standing committee on environment which has given suitable suggestion and roadmap to the government for legislation.
They appealed the ministry of climate change and environment protection departments to have constructive meetings with the association and mutually formalize a sustainable policy on this environmental issue. They said recent issue of environment is actually a failure of waste management companies. The association has discussed and submitted all the applicable solutions to government to address the environmental issues, they said.
The association has advised minimum 45 micron thickness and size 12x"15" that can be easily re-used, collected and recycled which was accepted by technical and legal teams of Punjab government.
Polyethylene is food and drug approved (FDA) product all around the world. Countries like the USA, Europe, Australia and Canada have not banned plastic bags but have regulated like our association suggested.
They said 10 countries have banned less than 30 micron single use shopping bags, 15 countries have banned less than 50 micron single use shopping bags while no country in the world, except Kenya, has banned the shopping bags and that has damaged the economy of Kenya in terms of revenue, un-employment and closure of factories. Since Kenya has abundant jungles, therefore they can afford paper bags.