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By:

Dr. Sanjay Joshi

31 August 2024 at 3:05:29 pm

India: The Largest Source of Plastic Pollution Worldwide

So, dear readers, now that we have learnt how and why waste plastic causes pollution, let us look a little deeper into this problem, which has grown out of proportion both globally and locally. Plastic pollution is no longer a distant issue; it has become a serious and immediate threat to our environment. According to the latest data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and several international researchers, over 460...

India: The Largest Source of Plastic Pollution Worldwide

So, dear readers, now that we have learnt how and why waste plastic causes pollution, let us look a little deeper into this problem, which has grown out of proportion both globally and locally. Plastic pollution is no longer a distant issue; it has become a serious and immediate threat to our environment. According to the latest data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and several international researchers, over 460 million metric tonnes of plastic are produced worldwide every year. This plastic is used in a wide range of applications, many of which are short-lived and quickly discarded. From this, an estimated 20–23 million metric tonnes of plastic waste end up in the environment annually. This figure is expected to increase sharply by 2040 if strong measures are not taken. Plastic litter is now found everywhere—on land, in rivers, in oceans, and even in the air as microplastics. Although plastic pollution is a global problem, Mera Mahan Bharat is sadly at the forefront of this crisis. A recent paper published in Nature states that India has become the world’s largest contributor to plastic pollution, accounting for nearly 20% of the total global plastic waste. India generates about 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year. This is more than the waste produced by many regions. Of this, nearly 3.5 million tonnes are improperly discarded and mismanaged, meaning they are neither collected nor scientifically processed. Plastic waste in India has been rising at an alarming rate due to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and economic development. In cities, the demand for single-use plastics and packaging materials has increased drastically, driven by convenience and changing lifestyles. India’s per capita plastic consumption has reached around 11 kg per year and is expected to grow further with increasing industrialisation and consumerism. This trend places enormous pressure on our already overburdened waste management systems. The major factors responsible for the sharp increase in plastic pollution in India are as follows. Single-Use Plastics Single-use plastics, such as polythene carry bags, straws, disposable cutlery, cups, and packaging materials, form a large share of India’s plastic waste. Despite regulatory bans and restrictions, nearly 43% of the country’s total plastic waste still comes from single-use plastics. This clearly shows that the problem lies not only in policy-making but also in enforcement and implementation. The continued dominance of single-use plastics is largely due to weak monitoring and the lack of affordable, easily available alternatives. Many small vendors, shopkeepers, and consumers still find plastic to be the cheapest and most convenient option for daily use. Although the government introduced a ban on selected single-use plastic items in 2022, its impact on the ground has been limited. These products are still widely manufactured, sold, and used because they are inexpensive, lightweight, and readily available in local markets, making the ban difficult to enforce consistently. Open Burning and Landfilling: About 5.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are openly burnt across India every year, mainly in rural areas and urban slums. This practice is extremely dangerous, as it not only worsens air pollution but also releases highly toxic chemicals into the atmosphere. These pollutants directly harm local communities and add to climate change. In addition, nearly 30% of total plastic waste is dumped in uncontrolled landfills. Such sites are not scientifically managed, allowing harmful chemicals to seep into the soil and nearby water bodies. Over time, this contaminates groundwater, damages ecosystems, and poses serious risks to human and animal life. During the winter months, it is common to see people collecting wood and dry leaf litter from the streets, lighting small fires, and sitting around them for warmth. However, plastic bottles, wrappers, and polythene bags often get mixed in and are burnt along with the leaves. Most people are unaware that they are not only polluting the environment but also inhaling toxic fumes from very close distances. The smoke from burning plastic contains harmful substances that can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, skin issues, and even long-term diseases such as cancer. Open burning of plastic is therefore one of the most hazardous practices for human health and environmental safety. Besides these factors, inefficient waste management infrastructure, discrepancies in data reporting, and heavy dependence on informal waste handling systems further worsen the problem. We will explore these issues in greater detail next week. Till then, have a good weekend! (The author is an environmentalist. Views Personal.)

Reputation Reveals Itself Quietly

In professional circles, reputation is often built in boardrooms, at client meetings, or through the polished charm of networking events. Yet, it is equally vulnerable in less controlled environments—on business trips, informal dinners, or long hours spent traveling together. It is in these moments, when masks slip and personalities show their unfiltered sides, that true character is revealed.


We have all encountered people who present themselves as respectful, pleasant, and admirable in the office, but who transform completely the moment they are out of their comfort zone. A colleague who seemed cooperative suddenly turns irritable, impatient, and entitled when faced with minor inconveniences. Another, who appeared confident, reveals insecurity by overcompensating—seeking attention, making exaggerated claims, or subtly putting others down to prove superiority. These shifts are not just personality quirks; they carry long-term consequences for one’s personal brand.


Business owners, founders, and senior leaders must realize that personal branding is not just about public speaking, the LinkedIn profile, or the polished presentation given to investors. It is about the sum of every interaction, big or small. The way you behave when no one is watching—or when you think the situation is too trivial to matter—often leaves the most lasting impressions. A single business trip can undo years of carefully crafted reputation if one’s behavior contradicts the brand they project in professional settings.


Imagine being perceived as approachable and visionary at work, only for colleagues to discover on a business trip that you are prone to tantrums, condescension, or greed. That disconnect does not just surprise people—it disappoints them. It creates distrust, because what people had admired now feels like a façade. And trust, once broken, rarely recovers fully. In high-stakes professional environments, people may continue to deal with you out of necessity, but the respect and willingness to support you diminishes silently.


In contrast, those who maintain consistency across environments reinforce their brand. A leader who remains grounded during long, tiring trips, who respects others’ needs, and who refrains from letting irritation spill into the room builds quiet authority. Their credibility grows not because they demanded it, but because they modeled self-awareness, maturity, and discipline. That consistency translates into long-term influence—colleagues want to work with them again, clients want to trust them, and peers recommend them.


This is where personal branding becomes less about image and more about integrity. Leaders who fail to align their private behaviour with their public image risk being perceived as two-faced. And the business world is not forgiving when it comes to inconsistency. Stories of arrogance, greed, or emotional immaturity travel faster than carefully written bios or orchestrated LinkedIn updates.


For business owners and senior professionals, the takeaway is simple but profound: your brand is being built every single moment, not just on stage but also off stage. The question is—are you building a brand people admire, or one they tolerate out of necessity? Are you the colleague others are eager to travel with again, or the one they hope to avoid at all costs?


In today’s interconnected business ecosystem, where partnerships and referrals play as critical a role as direct deals, your behaviour outside the office has the power to either open doors or quietly close them forever.


Those who understand this truth and commit to aligning their actions with their values will find themselves creating a personal brand that commands not just attention, but lasting loyalty. Those who ignore it risk being remembered not for their skills or contributions, but for the discomfort they caused in shared spaces. And this is where personal branding as a discipline comes in. It is not about crafting an artificial image but about developing an authentic consistency between how you wish to be perceived and how you actually show up in every situation.


For entrepreneurs and leaders looking to take this deeper, my upcoming batch for the Personal Branding Signature Program—designed exclusively for business owners, founders, and senior professionals—will help you master this alignment. With limited seats and a tentative start in mid-September, the program will ensure you build a personal brand that not only attracts attention but also sustains respect and influence across every environment.


Because at the end of the day, a true personal brand is not built in moments of perfection, but in the moments that reveal who you really are. Let’s connect by the link provided below:


(The author is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

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