In a major step toward strengthening the circular packaging economy, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has granted final authorization to 17 recycled PET (r-PET) manufacturing plants. The move unlocks a combined capacity of around 3 lakh metric tons per year of food-grade r-PET for the beverage and bottling industry.
The approvals come at a time when global virgin PET supplies are uncertain and polymer prices are rising due to geopolitical tensions, including the war in Iran. Industry body APR Bharat said the additional capacity will help stabilize supply chains and ensure the availability of sustainable packaging materials.
The development supports India’s regulatory push on recycled plastics. Under Plastic Waste Management Rules, recycled content in rigid packaging will rise from 30% in 2025–26 to 60% by 2028–29, with beverage companies required to meet 40% recycled content by 2026–27.
The newly authorized plants are part of broader investments of ₹9,000–10,000 crore in 15–18 recycling facilities across the country. These units use advanced technologies that comply with global standards set by the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority, media reports said.
FSSAI’s move builds on its 2025 regulatory amendment allowing recycled PET in food-contact applications, a decision seen as pivotal for reducing plastic waste and boosting sustainable packaging. However, industry demand has faced some uncertainty following regulatory flexibility granted in 2025 to carry forward shortfalls in recycled content targets.
APR Bharat said the newly unlocked capacity could even create a surplus of r-PET in the near term, helping offset any disruptions in polymer supply while accelerating India’s transition toward a circular economy.
On 28 March 2025, FSSAI first published the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) First Amendment Regulations, 2025, in the Official Gazette, which officially permits the use of recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET) in food packaging. Packaging South Asia had written about the development.
Goutham Jain, director general, APR Bharat, has been quoted as saying, “The authorization granted by FSSAI to 17 recycled PET manufacturing plants marks a significant move in the country’s circular packaging economy. The timing could not have been more appropriate when global markets for virgin PET and polymers are facing uncertainty amid geopolitical developments.
“Capacities at these plants will help ensure an adequate supply of r-PET in the market, enabling beverage manufacturers to meet the regulatory guideline mandating 40% recycled food-grade plastic content in PET packaging bottles in 2026-27,” Jain said.
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Naresh Khanna – 10 February 2025
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