Chennai , 6 June 2022
The Tamil Nadu Plastics Manufacturers ‘ Association ( TAPMA ) , a premier industry body of plastics processing industries in the state , is organizing an international plastics exhibition , IPLAS 2022 , at Chennai Trade Center , between June 10-13 , 2022 , for the promotion of the industry , and the safe mechanisms for recycling of used plastic materials.
TAPMA has launches a booklet on the use and disposal of plastic materials at a press conference today . The booklet highlights the facts about plastics and intends to remove misconceptions and dispel myths surrounding plastics . It will be distributed free of cost to the visitors at the exhibition.
Spreadsheet over 13000 sqm , this four – day exhibition is expected to attract about 350 exhibitors and over 75,000 visitors . There will be live demos of machines from over 60 companies . IPLAS 2022 is expected to generate business worth about Rs . 500 crore for the exhibitors . Entry to the exhibition is FREE both to the business visitors and the general public .
In order to create awareness of the benefits of plastics among the general public , IPLAS will have a theme pavilion , titled ‘ A World of Plastics – a Right View , which will be open to all between June 10-13 , 2022. Another highlight of IPLAS is that it will have a special recycling pavilion to demonstrate how plastic waste is converted into granules and then again into finished products in line with the ideals of a circular economy . On display will be new inventions such as recyclable multi layered laminates and plastics wrappers used for packaging , hitherto considered non recyclable.
Talking about IPLAS 2022 , Mr.S.Rakkappan President , TAPMA , said that IPLAS is expected to give a fillip to Tamil Nadu’s Rs . 15,000 crore plastic industry comprising 8000 plus factories . They provide direct and indirect employment to 3,00,000 and 5,00,000 people respectively . It contributes Rs. 2,700 crore to the GST annually . The sector is dominated by small scale units that account for nearly 85 % of the registered units , while micro and medium units account for 5 % each . Only 5 % of the processors are large companies.
We believe that IPLAS will go a long way in helping the industry to achieve a growth rate of at least 20 % in the near term and 25-40 % in the longer run , while adhering to the legal framework of the government . The industry will create lakhs of new jobs and add to the overall prosperity of the state , ” he said.
At present , the plastic industry in Tamil Nadu is growing only at 4-5 % per annum TAPMA has plans to submit a detailed white paper to the government for the promotion of the industry . ” Normally the plastics industry grows about 1.5 to 2 times the GDP of the country or the state . However , the industry has grown only at about 5 % , while Tamil Nadu’s GSDP registered an impressive 14 % growth in 2021-22 . Currently , the industry in the states like Maharashtra and Gujarat clock an annual growth rate of 25 % . This means our state is lagging behind very much compared to the national trend . We have a growth potential of 28 % or higher . As per our estimate this growth rate is achievable with the support of the government , ” he said.
In his comments about the potential of the plastics recycling segment , Mr. B. Swaminathan , Chairman – Environment Committee , TAPMA , said , ” We are excited about the growth potential of the plastics recycling industry in Tamil Nadu . We expect that the recycling segment alone will attract about Rs. 300 crore of investment in the near future . Hence , we are having a special pavilion at IPLAS to showcase recycling technology – especially , in the area of recycling non – recyclable multilayered packaging materials . After the exhibition , we will take this theme pavilion throughout the state in the next 12 months to boost the state wide adoption of the latest recycling technologies . “
He added that TAPMA is committed to promoting compact safe recyclers . It has plans to place the recyclers at public locations to demonstrate how dry waste is converted into granules that are used subsequently for production of different products . We will be working with various corporations and municipalities to install these recyclers for better plastic waste management and recycling . These compact safe recyclers will work on single phase power supply and will help rag pickers and other NGOs to see higher value addition in their efforts . These technologies will ensure higher recovery of plastics waste from the municipal garbage . In a span of a few years , we expect the presence of plastics in the garbage to drop from 7 % to 2 % , ” he pointed out .