Nowadays, petroleum-based synthetic polymers have become a serious problem for the environment all over the world due to the waste disposal problems and environmental pollution. This leads to the great demand of environment friendly, biodegradable and sustainable plastics. Hence, there is strong need of production of cost effective biodegradable plastics having comparable properties with conventional polymers towards its targeted applications. Furthermore, the reduction in commercialization cost and enhancement in characteristic properties of biodegradable polymers also need to be achieved.

The symposium is convening to establish a consortium for discussing opportunities and challenges for development, production and processing of biodegradable plastics for eco-friendly society. The symposium will be jointly organized by IIT Guwahati and The Society for Polymer Science, India (SPSI) and SPSI-NE Chapter will be formally launched at IIT Guwahati premises during the symposium. The Society for Polymer Science, India (SPSI) was established as a Professional Society in March 1979 with a mandate to promote the general advancement of Science and Technology of Polymers in the country and to provide a forum for exchange of information amongst the members and persons attached to the Society.  This forum invites all the stakeholders, eminent professors, industrialist, innovators, academicians and scientists from different parts of the country and abroad.

The symposium includes the discussion on formulation of novel biodegradable polymer composites for commercialization, processing operations and its applications. The symposium will be dedicated to the production and processing of biodegradable plastics. It will be mutually beneficial for both industry as well as academia. It provides a platform for collaborating with renowned industries. It will bring together the eminent professors, industrialist, innovators, academicians and scientists to discuss about the scope for developing the biodegradable plastics for commercialization. The recent innovations and development of novel technologies in this field will also be discussed. It offers the best platform for academia, small-scale and large-scale polymer industries to showcase their expertise, products, and technology innovations. The symposium will gather together the various petrochemicals, plastics, packaging and printing industries under one roof and throw open the best networking opportunities to exhibitors and visitors alike. This symposium will also be kick-off meeting for the organization of MACRO 2020 at IIT Guwahati.

• Status of biodegradable plastics: Global & Indian context
• Technology innovation and production capabilities under Make in India policy
• Discussion on cost competiveness of sustainable plastics and conventional plastics
• Role of consortium on degradable plastics
• Industrial perceptions on degradable plastics
• Open forum meeting to draft road map to develop degradable plastics under Make in India policy
• Use of biopolymers and biomaterials in biomedical applications

Work from other relevant areas of sustainable polymer are also invited.