New Delhi: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has secured a patent registration for an innovative plastic-mixed handmade paper developed to fight the menace of plastic waste.
The patent certificate was issued to the Commission’s Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI) at Jaipur, on 2nd August 2021, by the Controller of Patent at the Government of India’s The Patent Office.
The idea of developing a plastic-mixed handmade paper was mooted by KVIC Chairman Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena in September 2018, and in just two months, in November 2018, the project was executed by a team of scientists at KNHPI.
The plastic-mixed handmade paper was developed under a project named REPLAN (REducingPLAstic from Nature). This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted, and added to paper pulp used in making handmade paper. The invention is aligned with the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi’s call for fighting the menace of single-use plastic.
KVIC Chairman welcomed the grant of patent and said the production of plastic waste mixed handmade paper would serve the twin objectives of protecting the environment alongside creating sustainable employment.
“The innovative plastic mixed handmade paper will be of great benefit to the environment. There are nearly 2,640 handmade paper-making units in the country under KVIC and State Khadi Boards. They nowhave the potential to clearapproximately 3,000 MT of waste plastic from nature every year. At the same time, it can create thousands of new jobs like the collection of waste plastic, cleaningand processing. It is, therefore, an apt model of sustainable development,” Saxena said.
KVIC, he added, would soon begin training entrepreneurs in making plastic-mixed handmade paper and share technical know-how with the domestic paper industry.
The technology developed by KVIC uses both high & low density waste polythene. This will add strength to the paper. The product is recyclable and eco-friendly. KVIC has developed products such as carry bags, envelopes, files/folders, etc. using the plastic-mixed handmade paper. So far it has sold over 13 lakh plastic mixed paper carry bags utilizing nearly 40 MT of waste plastic of Jaipur city while generating revenue of nearly Rs 1.30 crore.
Plastic mixed handmade paper carry bags are used at all Khadi India outlets for delivering goods to the buyers. KVIC is also selling these paper bags and envelopes through its e-portal www.khadiindia.gov.in. (India Science Wire)