NGT directs CPCB to conduct an environmental audit on Amazon and Flipkart for excessive plastic packaging

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) of India has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct an environmental audit and recover fines from Amazon, Flipkart, Pepsi Co., and others for violation of environmental norms, especially ‘excessive plastic packaging material’.

This order was passed by the tribunal comprising of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Justice SP Wangdi (Judicial Member), and Dr Nagin Nanda (Expert Member) in two original applications, seeking enforcement of 'Extended Producer Responsibility' under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. The tribunal sought an action taken report by the CPCB before October 14.

Consider invoking polluter pay principle for enforcing statutory norms suggests NGT

The green panel stated that the statutory regulators were not taking coercive measures against such manufacturer companies and e-commerce firms. The pollution board was asked to consider invoking the ‘polluter pays’ principle for enforcing the statutory norms.

The apex pollution monitoring body had stated to the NGT that as per provisions 9(2) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, "Primary responsibility for collection of used multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging is of producers, importers and brand owners who introduce the products in the market."

16-year-old petitioner contends companies use excessive packaging 

This present petition was filed by a 16-year-old boy, Aditya Dubey, who approached the Tribunal to stop e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart from excessive plastic use in the packaging of products. Dubey's plea contended that the companies deliver items in cardboard boxes, which are much larger compared to the size actually required. 

“To ensure that the sold items do not move around in the outsized boxes, they wrap the items in multiple layers of plastic sheets and plastic bubble wraps and thereafter fill the large empty spaces in the boxes with additional sheets of single-use plastic,” the petition states. Moreover, it claims that the plastic waste ends up in garbage and landfill sites, leading insurmountable damage to the environment. 

"The fact that it's non-biodegradable and is recycled in very small percentages means that our planet with passage of time is becoming a big dumping ground for single-use plastic which breaks down into smaller fragments known as microplastics and then contaminates soil and water," the petitioner had said.