When Parsiana (September 21, 2018) arrived, as usual I began reading the issue cover to cover. I read about the replacement of banned plastic envelopes with sustainable alternatives ("Torn to shreds," Readers’ Forum). Could we not reintroduce the good, old, gauze lined envelopes we used long before the advent of plastic envelopes?
There are innumerous BPL (below poverty line) families who can be trained and allotted this task of making special gauze/malmal (muslin) lined envelopes for this specific purpose. And why stop there? They can be encouraged to produce these in varying sizes for general market use. Garment companies may be approached for waste /bit cuts to drastically reduce input costs.
This is an industry waiting to re-explode. Better to encourage small home/cottage industry than to have some gargantuan industrialist capture the entire demand at an incomparable competitive price. Don’t waste time thinking about/debating/seeking approval. Go for it tomorrow. At one time it was a great cottage industry. Let’s rekindle it. I will be glad to lend a hand to start it off.
DARAYES P. DALAL
Madras
dpdalal47@gmail.com
The editors reply
The gauze lining sometimes becomes entangled with the material inserted. The envelope also has to be punched to allow the registration particulars of the magazine to be viewed after inserting. If all this can be managed and the costs and weight kept down, publications may venture to try them.