Packaging made from PLA is 100% nature-based. Besides environmental issues, the sharp rise in oil and feedstock prices of PET and other polymers has made PLA a competitive alternative. Initiatives taken by PLA producers, equipment manufacturers, packaging producers as well as retailers have gone a long way in popularising PLA and making its use wide spread. Read more in Increasing use of compostable containers from PLA

Passive-dew-condenser is a device designed to extract moisture from humid air without the use of external energy. Plastics has been successfully used to develop dew harvest systems for people living in coastal villages to enable them to harvest dew and use it as a supplementary source of water. Read the first in the series of Plasticon Award winners in Passive Dew Condensers made of plastic

Based on recent evaluation of the five commonly used Phtahate plasticizers, the EU food safety regulator has altered acceptable daily intake limits. The changes could eventually allow more or less use of the individual phthalate compounds in plastic packaging. Read more in EU may change the tolerable daily limits of commonly used Phthalate plasticizers in PVC

A hose that changes colour according to the temperature of fluid inside it has been recently developed. The ink can be mixed to display any hue from white to black and can be made to change colour at any temperature in a range from –10°C to 60°C. Read more in Plastic hose that changes colour according to temperature of fluid

A ban on plastic bags would have serious adverse implications on life of a common man. Plastics, due to their relatively higher cost efficiency, benefit ordinary citizens in sourcing their daily necessities in convenient and unadulterated form at a fraction of the cost as compared to paper, glass or cloth. Use of alternative materials would result in substantial increase in packaging cost of milk, edible oil, bread, cereals, pulses, spices, confectionery items, toiletry products and a host of other items, pushing some of these products beyond the reach of the poorer section of the society, apart from creating higher impact on the environment Read more in Is a ban on plastic bags justified?