Polymers — Tech Evolutions

Entry	Year	Description	Impact
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021	2021	This amendment prohibited identified single-use plastic items by July 1, 2022, and increased the thickness of plastic carry bags to 75 microns from September 30, 2021, and to 120 microns from December 31, 2022. It also expanded the scope of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).	Significantly tightened regulations on plastic waste, directly targeting single-use plastics and promoting thicker, more durable, and potentially recyclable plastic bags. It strengthened the EPR framework, making producers more accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic products.
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022	2022	Further clarified and strengthened the framework for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging. It provided guidelines for mandatory use of recycled plastic content, targets for recycling, and a centralized online portal for EPR registration and reporting.	Streamlined the EPR mechanism, making it more robust and enforceable. It incentivized the recycling industry by mandating recycled content and set clear targets for producers, pushing towards a more circular economy for plastic packaging in India.