New Delhi: Air India is set to impose a ban on plastic products like bags, cups and straws on all its flights from October 2. In the first phase, it will be implemented in all flights of Air India Express and Alliance air. In the second phase will be implemented in Air India flights.
"From October 2, we are going to completely ban the use of plastics in Air India and the low-cost subsidiary Air India Express," said Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani on Thursday.
For special meals, the airline will use eco-friendly birch wood cutlery in place of plastic cutlery. Crew meal cutlery will be replaced with light-weight steel cutlery. Plastic tumblers and teacups will be replaced with paper versions.
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In his Independence Day speech on August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged people and government agencies to take the first big step towards freeing India of single-use plastic.
Reports say a nation-wide ban is set to be imposed on plastic bags, cups, plates, small bottles, straws and certain types of sachets in line with government policy.
It could be a sweeping measure to stamp out single-use plastics from cities and villages. Modi, who is leading efforts to scrap such plastics by 2022, may launch the campaign with a ban on as many as six items on October 2, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Steps taken to stop the use of plastic in air crafts:
- Banana chips and sandwiches are presently packed in a plastic pouch which will be changed to butter paper pouch
- Cake slices uplifted in the snacks box will be replaced with muffins to avoid the present plastic wrapping
- For special meals that are ordered and paid for by passengers in advance, we will use Eco-friendly birch wood cutlery in place of plastic cutlery
- Crew meal cutlery will be replaced with light weight steel cutlery
- Plastic tumblers will be replaced with paper tumblers
- Plastic tea cups will be replaced with sturdy paper cups
