Is Barcode Tracking the Answer to India’s Plastic Waste Crisis?
“The EPR regulations can create much-needed transparency and accountability to ensure that the cost of managing plastic waste, which is significantly higher than other waste types, is borne by those who produce it,” says Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh, programme manager, Centre for Science and Environment, a think tank. The contradiction is evident: plastic pollution is pervasive, endemic and easy to visualise, choking rivers with waste and littering oceans. Yet when it comes to tracing and tracking producers of plastic packaging, there is little visibility on its journey from production to disposal. But come July 1, plastic bags and multi-layered plastic packaging must mandatorily carry a bar or QR code that would include details of the material, its thickness, the name of the manufacturer and their contact information. The regulation also applies to importers and brand owners of a product. The idea is simple: improving the traceability of plastic packaging in products and making producers accountable for the life cycle of the material. Penalties for non-compliance include up to five years in prison or fines up to ₹1 lakh. Tracking Trash The build-up to tracking and tracing plastic packaging has been some time in the making. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has streamlined the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 over the years to curb rising plastic pollution. Since April 2025, beverage makers are mandated to use 30% recycled plastics in rigid packaging, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles. The plan is to reach 60% by financial year 2029. Experts point out that the barcode system, under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, marks a shift in government strategy to make producers responsible for funding recycling of plastics used in packaging. So far, local governments and municipalities have been paying for end-of-life costs of using plastics, largely funded by taxpayers. “The EPR regulations can create much-needed transparency and accountability to ensure that the cost of managing plastic waste, which is significantly higher than other waste types, is borne by those who produce it,” says Siddharth Ghanshyam Singh, programme manager, Centre for Science and Environment, a think tank. In several states in the US and the European Union (EU), where EPR laws are well developed, producers need to pay a fee to fund collection, sorting and processing of packaging material. As a result, brands incentivise consumers to return packaging and used bottles. These packaging materials are then recycled or destroyed depending on their end-of-life status. In India, bringing producers, importers and brand owners to account for plastic used in product packaging is much more complex given the informal nature of waste collection, segregation and processing ecosystem. The informal sector, estimated to handle around 60% of India’s waste, needs training and additional resources to scan and segregate barcoded plastics. Businesses, too, need to figure out how to inculcate circularity within their value chain. Accountability Matters Traceability and accountability for plastic use put a real cost on the use of plastic. Experts suggest that to cut down on their dependence on plastics, businesses need to shift to rigid packaging formats or embrace reuse and refill systems. However, these solutions have costs and liability implications. According to Hisham Mundol, chief adviser, India, Environmental Defence Fund, a non-profit, India’s new EPR regulations for traceability are a necessary step, signalling a shift from voluntary action to enforceable responsibility. “But regulation alone won’t be enough—we must prepare Indian businesses not just to comply, but to lead,” he says. For that, the plastic-waste challenge before industry needs to be reframed as an opportunity. “A low-plastic world will create new markets, drive entrepreneurship and open export possibilities for Indian solutions,” he adds. “Compliance with EPR norms, traceable recycling mechanisms and usage of eco-friendly packaging materials are fast becoming prerequisites for international trade,” says Ajit Gupta, managing director, Ajit Industries, a leading manufacturer of industrial tapes. Industry players say businesses should focus on expanding collection and segregation mechanisms, investing in certified recycling technologies and adopting digital tracking systems to fulfil their EPR obligations. “Public-private partnerships can further accelerate capacity building in underserved regions,” suggests Jeevaraj Pillai, director, sustainability and president, flexible packaging and new product development at Uflex, a major packaging company. These changes not only hold manufacturers accountable for the plastic they generate but also offer Indian businesses a rare opportunity “to align environmental stewardship with economic competitiveness”, as Gupta puts it.
