Context: The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) has come up with an alternative to single-use plastics.

• NIIST scientists have developed a technology for manufacturing biodegradable tableware - including plates, cutleries and cups - from agricultural residues and byproducts. T
• he know-how was licensed to Marikar Green Earth Pvt Ltd.
• A huge amount of agricultural residues/by-products are released into the environment from food processing sectors.
• The utilisation of these wastes as an alternative to single-use plastics provides immense opportunities, according to NIIST.
• Primary agricultural residues are generated as a byproduct during the harvesting of agricultural crops while secondary agricultural residues are the leftovers from post-harvest processing.
• The biodegradable tableware developed from them has a shelf-life of upto six months and heat resistance up to 100 degree celsius.
• India generates around 27,000 tonnes of plastic waste per day. The country produced around 400 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2018-2019 alone.
• The shocking fact is that only nine per cent of all the plastics ever produced was recycled and around 60 % of the plastics have been disposed of into the natural environment or landfills which poses serious health and environmental hazards.
• With recent ban imposed by various States of India for single-use plastics, there comes a huge demand for alternative to plastics which are biodegradable in nature.

 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/niist-develops-alternative-to-single-use-plastic/article33454323.ece?homepage=true

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