Page 28 - Plastics News May 2026
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ENVIRONMENT NEWS
INDIA HAS ENOUGH CAPACITY TO MEET RECYCLED PET
MANDATE, INDUSTRY BODY APR BHARAT SAYS
he Association of PET Recyclers (APR) vanced recycling technology, plant infrastruc-
Bharat addressed concerns in the bever- ture and safety systems.
Tage industry about a possible shortage
of food-grade recycled PET (r-PET), saying In- However, APR Bharat cautioned that the suc-
dia has enough capacity to meet the upcoming cess of the transition will depend on steady de-
rules. PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is the mand from brands and strict compliance with
plastic commonly used in beverage bottles and the rules. It noted that while brand owners were
food packaging. expected to actively support recycling capacity,
there is now growing pressure from parts of the
The industry body said recyclers are “ready” to industry to delay targets.
support the transition as the government moves
ahead with its mandate of 40 per cent recycled “Such delays risk derailing India’s circular econo-
content in food-grade PET packaging from April my ambitions and undermine the commitments
1, 2026. The rules also allow companies to carry our nation has made on global platforms to com-
forward unmet targets from 2025-26 for up to bat plastic pollution. A consistent and commit-
three years, adding to demand pressure. ted approach from all stakeholders—especially
brand owners—is essential to ensure that the
According to Goutham Jain, director general progress achieved so far is not reversed,” Jain
of APR Bharat, the sector has already built ad- said.
equate capacity to meet both current and ad-
ditional requirements. The body also highlighted the broader economic
and supply chain benefits of the mandate. With
“We already have FSSAI-approved 17 food- global supply chains facing uncertainty, a strong
contact r-PET plants with a combined capacity domestic r-PET ecosystem can reduce reliance
of around 3.56 lakh tonnes currently on stream on imported virgin plastic and improve raw ma-
which is enough to meet the 40% recycled con- terial security.
tent requirement for FY 2026–27. This capac-
ity can support the additional carry-forward “Virgin PET availability and prices can be affect-
requirement of up to 10% from FY 2025–26. Be- ed by external shocks. A strong domestic r-PET
sides, the recycled PET manufacturers are ex- ecosystem gives India a more stable local source
panding at a rapid scale. Their food-grade r-PET of raw material. It can reduce dependence on
capacity is expected to reach around 7.5 lakh imported virgin PET and make the packaging
tonnes by March 2027. This means the sector is supply chain more secure,” Jain added.
preparing not only for the current 40% mandate,
but also for the future increase to 60% in 2028- Beyond industry, the transition is expected to
29 recycled content,” Jain said. support livelihoods in the informal sector, which
plays a key role in plastic waste collection. High-
The sector has already attracted investments of er demand for recycled material could improve
over `9,000 crore, driven by policy clarity under income stability and create more jobs across the
the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Amend- recycling value chain.
ment Rules and approvals from the food safety
regulator. Industry players have invested in ad- Source - https://www.fortuneindia.com
30 PLASTICS NEWS May 2026
