Editorial- Any Scientific organization thrives on a communication mouthpiece that can disseminate knowledge to every stratum of Society. An online news bulletin is one such mode of communication that allows the readers to stay up to date in their relevant field. At this point, we take pride in announcing the launch of our very first news bulletin “Chemical Warta”. We would also like to acknowledge Prof. G.D. Yadav’s contribution for creating this report. Chemical Warta features news on upcoming national and international conferences in different fields, recent trends in Chemistry, modern techniques etc. Content of different issues of J. Indian Chem. Soc. (March- August, 2020) is summarized in this bulletin. Through this bulletin we hope to convey the different activities of Indian Chemical Society. It is no longer a new thought when we argue that Scholars from different fields must collaborate to come up with innovative solutions. Through our bulletin we try to provide a platform to the researchers in diverse areas to communicate and connect. We hope that every member will participate enthusiastically to serve the purpose of the bulletin. It is safe to predict that only a collective effort from our members will produce results that will change the way we live. In this context we want to appreciate the effort made by Mr. Rahul Mitra of ASHA LED, Haldia, West Bengal, India for designing the cover page of this issue. Dr. Nibedita Chakrabarti Dr. Gourisankar Roymahapatra Editor Editor Chemical Warta; Vol. 1, Issue 2; August 2020 Page 1 Published by: Indian Chemical Society, 92-APC Road, Kolkata-09, India COVID 19 and Challenges and Opportunities for Chemical and Allied Industry Professor G.D. Yadav President, Indian Chemical Society Emeritus Professor of Eminence and J.C. Bose National Fellow (GOI) Former Vice Chancellor and R.T. Mody Distinguished Professor and Tata Chemicals Darbari Seth Distinguished Professor of Leadership and Innovation NSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY MUMBAI During this lockdown due to the COVD 19 pandemic and henceforth we will have to change our lifestyle and there will be a new normal. That new normal will be different for different ages and locations. Never in our widest dream a year ago, would we have imagined that will the World practically be closed for business. But it happened. Everybody is vulnerable now. In this connection, the entire world came to know social (physical} distancing, hand sanitization and “keeping the mouth shut”. The personal protection equipment (PPE) is a common vocabulary. The Chemical and Allied Industries including pharmaceuticals and drugs found a new respect. The damned and banned plastics came to the rescue in all forms and sizes. The importance of polymer and plastic industry will be more evident since we want to be protected from all viruses, bacteria and unknown microscopic creatures and bugs which are going to be a huge problem for the society at large. We need plastics more now than ever before to remain safe; masks, medicines, sanitizers, food products, water, and what not. Plastic is a saviour of humankind. Plastics, for the public it may be polythene bags which are littered everywhere, but in the wider sense of the term have been part and parcel of our lives at least for the past 70-80 years. You cannot imagine a World without plastics. Plastic ban was such a policy decision which did not solve the problem totally. What is the substitute for plastic and at what cost, and its convenience to use? In the first place, plastic was introduced to the commoners as a substitute to paper which was responsible for denudation of paper. A ton of paper requires about 1.5 tons of chemicals and 30 tons of water. Glass processing is done at 1500-1600 oC, needing a lot of energy and release of NOx and SOx. Glass is ~ 22 heavier than plastic and susceptible to breakage. Glass is made from all-natural resources, such as sand, soda ash, limestone and recycled glass. However, it is important to note that we’re running out of the sand that’s used to make glass in the first place. Worldwide, we go through usage of 50 billion tons of sand every year. That is twice the amount produced by every river in the world. So glass is no good. Glass is much heavier than plastic and Chemical Warta; Vol. 1, Issue 2; August 2020 Page 2 Published by: Indian Chemical Society, 92-APC Road, Kolkata-09, India so has a much larger carbon footprint. All of food packaging materials are 100 per cent recyclable, so whether you choose to buy a plastic bottle, can or glass, all of these can be recycled. Furthermore, the solution in terms of paper or glass as substitute to paper is to assume that you throw it after use, and it will not cause pollution. Nature will take care of it. Short sightedness! I think the ban on single use plastic (SUP) was a knee-jerk reaction without finding an alternate economically viable and easily adoptable material. Ban is never as a good idea. Because ban leads to all sorts of social problems, illegal businesses and corruption by the law enforcing authorities. It is absolutely true we have to reduce waste be that plastic, metal or debris a long-term solution is needed. Plastic which is already in the environment and use of plastic in future will require two different approaches. The history of technology teachers us that if one technology creates a problem, another solves it. Better technology is the only solution. Better methods of collection of waste at source and segregation, recycle, reuse, depolymerization, mixing with bitumen for road making etc. are well practiced but not fully implemented and the list is long. Govt of Maharashtra last year even banned non-woven polypropylene (PP) bags which are 100% recycle. PP is used for face masks, surgical masks N95 and hazmat dresses. Now they are importing from abroad; for instance, China. Ban on SUP should be lifted temporarily to deal with the grave health crisis India is facing and the protocol for such waste disposal must be in place. Those who collect and dispose such waste need to be protected. I had suggested to the Govt. that no plastic bad, wrapping or container be given free but should be sold with a refundable deposit of at least Rs 1-5 per item depending on the potential to pollute. Like the news paper delivery man comes to our doorsteps every morning, another person will come to collect plastic bags, bottles, can and the like and refund part of money charging some collection fee (5-10%) which could be digitally collected. It will promote Digital India mission and also create employment .The municipalities will save money on segregation at source and the plastic can be reprocessed or depolymerized or whatever form it could be converted into. Thus, SUP will be a game changer and not a polluter. Our life has changed forever due to Corona. Everybody will use sanitizers, disinfectants, face masks apart from other gazettes and medicines; in other words, chemicals in one form or the other. Just imagine, over 7.3 billion people using alcohol- based sanitizers, different formulations, and several millions of tons of alcohol required since at least 70% alcohol is used in the formulation. In fact, this pandemic has brought to the fore the importance of all these related industries. Thus, there is a confluence of chemical sciences and engineering with biological sciences and engineering whether you want develop therapeutics or vaccines, use biocides, masks, and practice social distancing. The technologies related to producing advanced materials and polymers, clean energy generation and storage, medicines, high-end drugs, nutraceuticals, food products, fertilizers, agrochemicals, surface coating materials, dyes, colorants, pigments, adhesives, textiles, fibres, oleochemicals, Chemical Warta; Vol. 1, Issue 2; August 2020 Page 3 Published by: Indian Chemical Society, 92-APC Road, Kolkata-09, India surfactants, lubricants, water treatment and purification, air pollution abatement, bio- processing, downstream processing and a myriad of related issues involve high degree of science and engineering related to chemicals and materials. There is not a single man-made item which does not use chemical. Even if you try, we will not succeed. I believe the Govt. of India should declare these industries as essential, not just pharma and healthcare. They should never be part of any future lockdown since there is a huge supply chain wherein product one industry is consumed in the next which may end up in a polymer, pesticide, biocide, mask or disinfectant or a drug. About 70% of industrial chemicals are used to make some other chemicals and materials and are never sold off the shelf in general market. The public does not know it. Because of ban on Chinese imports the Chemical and Allied Industries, whether intermediates, API, drugs, agrochemicals, and the like, will have great future. Of course, the processes and products must be manufactured by using green chemistry and engineering; plants must be safer and smarter. After the reopening of industries after the lockdown, about a dozen accidents took place in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore chemical safety and risk management, worker training and loss prevention must be strictly followed. The Chemical Industry will be a major contributor to the India’s dream of a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024. I am sure Indian Industry will rise to the occasion. We will have to live with COVID 19 for some time to come; the challenges and opportunities it has provided to scientists and engineers, economists, strategists, media, academia, governments and all sorts of industries are too many to enumerate.