16 year old filed plea: Amazon & Flipkart have to pay fine for excessive use of plastics for packaging

Mumbai The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct an environmental audit and retrieve the fines from e-commerce giants Amazon and Flipkart for using excessive amount of plastic for packaging. CPCB had told NGT that e-commerce companies must fulfil their extended producer responsibility under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016.

CPCB also asked e-commerce companies to set up systems to collect plastic waste generated due to the packaging of their products.

NGT bench said, “The CPCB can also consider ordering environmental audit against the concerned entities and assess and recover compensation for violation of environmental norms, following due process of law.”

The apex environmental pollution monitoring body had told the NGT that as per provisions 9(2) of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, “It is the primary duty of the producers, importers and brand owners to collect the multi-layered plastic sachet or pouches or packaging introduced in the market.

The plea was filed by 16 year old boy Aditya Dubey through his legal guardian to direct Amazon and Flipkart to stop excessive use of plastic in packaging the goods delivered by the firm.

“The e-commerce companies are covered under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016. But due to a lack of monitoring and implementation, the respondents continue to use excessive amounts of plastic in wrapping and packaging their sold items,” said the plea, filed through advocate Meenesh Dubey.

However, Amazon, has vowed to phase out single-use plastic from its products and is now delivering items in cardboard boxes.
The tribunal sought an action taken report in the matter before October 14, the next date by email.