WORLD-USER RIGHTS DAY – BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGES AS REGIONAL TO PLASTIC
Kaieteur News – Pollution caused by polystyrene and other types of plastic has become one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges, and in Guyana, this is no different. In the capital only, the Mayor’s Solid Waste Department and the City Council (M&CC) regularly remove bulk quantities of plastic and other waste from markets, mobile dumps and residents.
The consumer movement marks March 15 “World Consumer Rights Day” every year, and this year the focus is on “Tackling Plastic Pollution”.
Plastic is a very useful material in our daily lives, but our production and use of plastics, especially single-use plastic, has become unsustainable. This has a serious impact on our ecosystems, causing negative environmental consequences including pollution and threatening human health.
So as consumers, we are encouraged to adopt the use of alternatives quickly. Thankfully, with the production of biodegradable packaging options, we have useful alternatives.
The Government of Guyana from January 1, 2016 banned the import, manufacture and sale of Polystyrene and Styrofoam containers forcing companies to use biodegradable or recyclable materials. The Environmental Protection (Expanded Polystyrene Prohibition) Regulations prohibit the use or provision of these containers by foodservice establishments.
To support enforcement of the regulation, the Guyana National Standards Office (GNBS) in 2018 developed a National Standard for Labeling of Biodegradable Food Containers (GYS9-19: 19) under the Specification for product labeling. The basis of the Standard also seeks to weed out other types of containers, which make their way into the country without meeting the requirements to be considered biodegradable.
According to the Standard, a biodegradable material is one where degradation results from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and algae.
It states that all biodegradable containers shall be clearly labeled with: The composition of a material that should be safe and of food grade quality, the time taken for the item to decompose not more than nine months from under normal conditions along with its microwaveable properties.
In addition, biodegradable certificates are issued for the manufacture and import of such products.
Consumers and businesses alike need to understand their responsibility to reduce plastic waste. This not only reduces the long-term challenges to pollution control but also contributes to reducing related health and ecosystem issues. Reducing waste protects the environment for future generations.
As a result of the mandatory GYS9-19: 2018 standard, consumers can also reenter businesses that continue to use any type of polystyrene or Styrofoam materials.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring the production, import, sale and disposal of a biodegradable food container in accordance with the Standard.
Consumer Bodies including the GNBS, the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Trade’s Consumer Affairs Department are joining forces to run a range of activities to mark the occasion. World Consumer Rights Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of consumer rights and needs. According to Consumer International, celebrating the day is an opportunity to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected, and to protest against market abuse and social injustices, which undermine those rights.
For further information, contact GNBS at phone numbers: 219-0062-66 or on WhatsApp at 692-GNBS (4627). Visit our website: www.gnbsgy.org and like our Facebook page: Guyana National Bureau of Standards.