In 2018, the largest consumer of plastic was the packaging industry (rigid and flexible), which together formed around 59 percent of the consumption volume of India. Building and construction also had a large share at 13 percent. The total plastic consumption volume was over 15 million metric tons in that year.
Plastic use in India
The use and application of plastic has grown considerably in the country. Since 1990, the demand for plastic multiplied over 20 times and was over 18,000 kilotons per annum in 2018. However, the per capita plastic consumption in India was under 15 kilograms, which was quite less in comparison to the global per capita consumption of plastic, specifically in comparison to the developed countries. Plastics are playing a major role in the economic development and progress of other sectors such as automotive, construction, healthcare, etc.
Plastics types
India is one of the leading nations in the plastic industry with a diversified product mix, which helps it to meets its internal as well as its export demand. The country produced many different types of polyolefins such as low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene to name a few. It also produced polyvinyl chloride, styrenics, polyethylene terephthalate, and several other plastics. In the financial year of 2019, polyethylene was the most consumed plastic type in the country. It was used the most by the films and sheets sector across the country.
Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector
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Plastindia Foundation. (March 4, 2020). Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved October 09, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/
Plastindia Foundation. "Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector." Chart. March 4, 2020. Statista. Accessed October 09, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/
Plastindia Foundation. (2020). Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: October 09, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/
Plastindia Foundation. "Distribution of Plastic Consumption* in India in 2018, by Sector." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Mar 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/
Plastindia Foundation, Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/ (last visited October 09, 2024)
Distribution of plastic consumption* in India in 2018, by sector [Graph], Plastindia Foundation, March 4, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009117/india-plastic-consumption-share-by-sector/