In a landmark move for India’s packaging and recycling industry, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently approved the use of food-grade recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for food and beverage contact applications. Prior to this, the use of recycled plastics in direct contact with food was restricted in India, despite growing global acceptance of rPET in markets such as Europe and the United States. The FSSAI’s "Guidelines for Recycling of Post-Consumer PET for Food Contact Applications" outline strict standards for the production and validation of food-grade rPET, ensuring it meets safety benchmarks comparable to virgin PET.

According to the guidelines, only post-consumer PET bottles that were originally used for food packaging are permitted as input materials. The recycling processes must be advanced enough to effectively decontaminate PET to a level suitable for food use. The safety standards mirror international benchmarks. Under the guidelines, decontamination must achieve a reduction of surrogate contaminants to below 220 micrograms/kg in the resin, based on US FDA standards, or below 10 micrograms/ kg in beverages or food simulants, as per European Union requirements. Recycling operators are also mandated to maintain strict Good Manufacturing Practices, complete traceability of materials, and continuous monitoring of product quality.

The move is expected to have wide-reaching implications for the country’s packaging industry. It allows beverage companies, food brands, and packaging manufacturers to incorporate recycled content into their products without compromising safety. By encouraging the adoption of food-grade rPET, India is set to significantly cut down on virgin plastic consumption, reduce plastic waste pollution, and boost recycling infrastructure.

Industry experts have welcomed the decision, noting that it will drive innovation, stimulate investment in recycling technologies, and create new market opportunities. 

The move is poised to significantly advance India's circular economy goals, said the Association of PET Recyclers Bharat ( APR Bharat) in a statement released to the press. This progressive step by the FSSAI harmonizes with the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 (as amended), which already mandate the incorporation of 30% recycled content in rigid plastic packaging, effective from April 1, 2025, the statement read.  

Lauding the guidelines, Shailendra Singh, Director General, APR Bharat, remarked: “This significant move is expected to fast track the adoption of recycled PET in food-contact packaging in a big way thereby giving a huge boost to the country’s circular economy.” 

The current mandate requires using 30% recycled content for rigid packaging, and there is more than adequate capacity available to meet emerging demand for r-PET, he pointed out. He is positive that a significant chunk of capacities will also be made available soon, thereby enabling producers and brand owners to meet their targets of use of recycled PET content.

The association ‘APR Bharat’ was established a few months ago to champion PET recycling in India. It is actively working with government bodies, brand owners, and the broader collection ecosystem to develop a robust collection and processing system for PET across India. Prashant Khandelwal, Director of APR Bharat and Senior Vice President at Ganesha Ecosphere, clarified: “By setting industry standards and amplifying recyclers' voices, we strive to reduce waste and conserve resources for the future."

Regulating food-grade rPET

Explaining the nitty-gritties of the guidelines, Khandelwal said that FSSAI has been established as the central authority for certifying and approving recyclers to produce food-grade PET. To obtain certification, recyclers must undergo rigorous documentation, audits, and compliance checks to ensure that their material meets safety standards for use in food contact applications. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) continue to play a regulatory role, ensuring compliance through monitoring and reporting mechanisms, especially via the EPR portal which provides traceability of the material from collection to conversion.

So far, five companies namely Srichakra Polyplast, Reliance Industries, Ganesha Ecopet, Uflex Limited, and Ester Industries Limited, have been granted approval to manufacture food-grade rPET.  

Approval for recycled HDPE for food-grade use is also in process, Khandelwal noted. 

From policy to practice 

In 2016, the Government of India issued a notification under the Plastic Waste Management Rules, targeting single-use plastics and mandating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). A crucial development came in the form of a ban on plastic waste imports, forcing the country to build domestic recycling capabilities. Subsequent amendments in 2018 and 2022 have further strengthened the regulatory landscape. The 2022 update, in particular, enabled the use of recycled content in food packaging—setting the stage for food-grade rPET.

Strict feedstock requirements

Only post-consumer PET bottles originally used for food or beverage packaging are allowed for conversion into food-grade rPET. This means that the feedstock must be traceable and must not include non-food PET, to ensure product safety.

“All PET bottles used for food packaging—such as soft drink or water bottles—can be recycled into food-grade rPET, provided they are collected and processed in an environmentally safe manner,” Khandelwal underscored. He stressed that the input stream must be free from contamination or other polymers, and segregated accordingly. 

He pointed out that effective collection systems, large-scale segregation, and public awareness are critical to ensure quality input for recyclers. “Technology adoption and infrastructure development are also essential to scale operations.” 

Multiple recycling routes

As per the guidelines, methods such as Super-Clean Recycling, Melt-in Recycling, Paste-in Recycling, and Enhanced Chemical Recycling have been recognized as capable of producing food-grade rPET. Each process must undergo rigorous validation through challenge tests, extraction tests, and migration tests to ensure that any potential contaminants are reduced to safe levels.

Khandelwal delved into the nuances of the different recycling methods currently being deployed in India and globally. Super-clean mechanical recycling is regarded as the most dominant and mature method, and is widely adopted across India. “It involves an advanced cleaning process of post-consumer PET flakes, ensuring they meet high purity standards for food-grade applications. Globally this process accounts for nearly 95-97% of all recycling, having been in commercial use for over a decade,” he said. 

India’s capacity and economic leverage

According to Singh, a combined investment of Rs 7500-8000 crores has been made into world class PET recycling plants, capable of making the safest grade of r-PET to be used as a food contact material.  “The industry, which has already created a capacity of close to 4 lakh MT (commissioned), is hopeful of taking it up to 7.5 lakh MT by 2027 and further increase the installed capacity to one million MT by 2030. These capacities are being built across the country,” he noted. 

As for virgin polymer usage, Khandelwal forecasted a temporary degrowth in virgin PET demand—an estimated 12–15% dip—as brands begin blending 30% recycled content into their packaging.  

On the ground, converters and bottle producers have already begun adapting. Over the past 1.5 years, more than 25,000 tons of rPET have been successfully incorporated into new bottles, marking a significant industry milestone. 

The Director highlighted a ripple effect across employment and skill-building. “Earlier, recycling existed but lacked structure. Now, with investments and regulatory push, the ecosystem is emerging,” he said. As more advanced recycling plants are set up, skill training in handling high-end technologies is also gaining pace.

Singh is positive that investment is estimated to generate 10,000 new jobs and also benefit the waste pickers community of over 2 million people who collect post-consumer PET bottles and send them for recycling. 

Steady progress made 

Khandelwal expressed satisfaction about the evolving ecosystems and economics. “Earlier, recycling was mostly downcycling into poor-quality products. But now, with better technology and higher investments, upcycling to premium-grade recycled plastics is a reality,” he said. However, high-end recycling is costlier than virgin plastic, reinforcing the need for a supportive market and regulatory ecosystem. 

“When working with post-consumer waste, the process involves extensive decontamination and conversion into high-grade material, which naturally increases the cost. This cost is typically higher than that of virgin material—it can never match or be cheaper than virgin plastic. It will always be more expensive. However, in recent years, an ecosystem has started to develop with the support of government agencies. Today, we are seeing advancements in technology and increased investment, both of which are crucial to enabling the production of high-quality recycled materials,” he expounded. 

“In the next 3 to 4 years, India will be a well-developed market for high-end recycled products,” Khandelwal predicted.