Leading dairy firm Amul has urged the environment ministry to postpone the ban imposed on plastic straws by one year because of a shortage of paper straws in the domestic and international markets.

The government’s ban on single-use plastics, including plastic straw, will come into effect from July 1, 2022.

“We have written a letter to the environment secretary on the proposed ban on single use plastic straw,” Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) managing director R.S. Sodhi said.

The GCMMF markets its milk and other dairy products under the Amul brand.

“The plastic straw in our butter milk and lassi is attached to a tetra pack. It is part of primary packaging.

“So we have urged the environment ministry to include it as part of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycling,” Sodhi said.

Amul needs 10-12 lakh plastic straws daily. Sodhi said the company had urged the ministry to provide local industry one year to set up dedicated facilities for producing paper straws.