What’s inside:
Indian Railways is switching from plastic plates to biodegradable plates on select trains to help the environment.
Indian Railways is making a significant change to reduce plastic waste. Starting from March 2026, they will stop using plastic plates in premium trains like Vande Bharat, Bengaluru Rajdhani, and Shatabdi Express. Instead, they will use eco-friendly biodegradable plates.
This new initiative aims to make train services completely plastic-free. Initially, it will be tested on a few selected premium trains, and if successful, it will be rolled out to other long-distance trains and premium classes in the future.
The biodegradable plates are made from natural materials like vegetable and fruit peels, and waste paper. Unlike regular plastic plates that take hundreds of years to decompose, these plates can break down into soil within just 3 to 6 months after use.
By making this switch, Indian Railways estimates they will save over 50,000 plastic plates every month. This means approximately 300 kg of plastic waste will be avoided each month, contributing positively to the environment.
As the pilot project launches in March 2026, it marks a significant step towards cleaner railway operations. If successful, we can expect a wider adoption of biodegradable materials across more trains in the country.
Summary:
- Indian Railways will stop using plastic plates in premium trains.
- Biodegradable plates will be introduced starting March 2026.
- The initiative aims to make train services plastic-free.
- These plates decompose in 3 to 6 months, unlike plastic.
- Over 300 kg of plastic waste will be saved each month.
