The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has carried out the country’s first Plastic Waste Brand Audit, identifying major corporate contributors to the state’s non-recyclable plastic waste. The exercise, conducted across six major cities, marks a significant move towards strengthening accountability in plastic waste management.
The audit was undertaken in Mohali, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda to determine which brands generate the largest share of hard-to-recycle plastic waste. After analysing 11,810 plastic packets collected under multiple brand names, PPCB identified 14 companies including four multinational corporations responsible for around 59 per cent of the state’s non-recyclable waste.
Of the 6,991 kilograms of municipal waste assessed, 613 kilograms were found to be hard-to-recycle plastics, forming the focus of the brand audit. Officials say the findings highlight the urgent need for manufacturers to shift towards sustainable packaging and compliance with environmental norms.
PPCB Chairperson Reena Gupta said the 14 identified brands have been summoned and instructed to submit clear, time-bound strategies to curb plastic pollution. She emphasised that companies will not be allowed to continue polluting the state and that accountability will be strictly enforced.
Gupta added that the PPCB will intensify monitoring and enforcement efforts while increasing collaboration with industries and communities. The Board plans to continue strengthening public participation and manufacturer responsibility as Punjab pushes towards becoming a cleaner, plastic-responsible state.