India’s first National Expo on eco-alternatives to banned SUPs to begin in TN

New Delhi: In a first of its kind initiative in the country, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in coordination with the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the State Government will organize a two-day National Expo on Eco-alternatives to banned Single Use Plastics (SUPs) and Startup Conference in Chennai from tomorrow.

The Expo, is to be inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, in the presence of Union Minister of State for I& B and Fisheries L.Murugan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and State Minister for

Environment, Climate Change, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Siva.V.Meyyanathan, will create an opportunity for the manufacturers of alternatives to SUPs to showcase their products and to make public aware of the various alternatives available for the banned SUPs.

A release from the TNPCB here on Sunday said the Tamil Nadu Government has banned 14 types of SUPs in the State with effect from January one, 2019 and to create awareness among the public on the ill effects of disposal of SUPs and the need for avoiding the same, the Chief Minister had on December 23 last year launched the “Meendum Manjappai” campaign and distributed Manjappai to school students, public, etc.

Subsequently, the Union Government also banned certain SUPs throughout the country with effect from July one this year.

In this background, the National Expo and Start up Conference is being organised which will be first of its kind in the country.

There will be 150 stalls exhibiting alternatives to SUPs viz., banana leaf products, fibre/rice bran/rice husk/ agricultural products, areca leaves products, coconut shell products, coir products, pottery products, palm products, cloth/jute products, compostable carry bags/cutlery products, cloth banners, by the manufacturers from all over the country.

They will also be exhibiting the machineries used for the manufacture of eco-alternatives. There will be five startup conferences on various aspects of alternatives to SUP, plastic waste management, and air pollution management over two days of the event.

These conferences will provide opportunities for interaction with various stakeholders and funding agencies for the startups. The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to identify potential sellers and buyers of alternatives to SUPs.

On the first day, the National Expo will be inaugurated by Bhupender Yadav during which the Directory of Manufacturers of Eco-Alternative Materials for SUP in Tamil Nadu prepared by the TNPCB will be launched.

On the second day, Start-Up Conference will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey, in the presence of Central Pollution Control Board Chairman Tanmay Kumar and other officials.

Several dignitaries including Secretaries of various Union Ministries Secretaries of State Governments and the Chairman and Member Secretaries of other State Pollution Control Boards will also be attending the event.

This National Expo is open to all including public, school and college students, entrepreneurs for startups for eco-alternatives to SUPs and people involved in business like, hoteliers, caterers, kalyana mandapams, theatres, etc, at free of cost, which will endow knowledge on eco-alternatives to SUPs and technology transfer.