India-based Chemco Group, a leading plastic packaging and manufacturing company, has received authorization from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manufacture food-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin for food-contact applications under the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
The approval marks a significant milestone in Chemco’s efforts to advance a circular and compliant packaging ecosystem in India, while supporting the growing demand for sustainable packaging materials.
The authorization follows the commissioning of Chemco’s large-scale bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat. Established with an investment of approximately USD 125 million, the facility is designed to recycle over one billion post-consumer PET bottles annually and convert them into food-grade rPET resin suitable for food and beverage packaging applications.
The facility is equipped with a Starlinger bottle-to-bottle recycling system, incorporating globally recognized technology specifically developed for food-contact recycling applications. It complies with India’s food-contact packaging regulations and applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements governing rPET materials.
In addition to FSSAI authorization, the facility is certified to FSSC 22000 standards and has received recognition from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-contact rPET applications.
The approval represents an important regulatory milestone for India’s recycled plastics sector, where stringent requirements govern the use of recycled materials in direct food-contact applications. Manufacturers must demonstrate robust traceability, process controls, testing protocols, and compliance systems to ensure product safety and suitability.
Commenting on the development, Vaibhav Saraogi, Director, Chemco Group, said:
"Receiving FSSAI authorization for food-grade rPET is an important milestone not only for Chemco, but also for the broader development of circular packaging infrastructure in India. As demand for compliant recycled content continues to increase, particularly in food and beverage packaging, it becomes essential to build credible domestic manufacturing capabilities supported by regulatory discipline, traceability, and consistent quality standards."
He added that the company’s investment in bottle-to-bottle recycling was made with a long-term vision to support both sustainability objectives and supply-chain reliability for brand owners seeking compliant recycled-content packaging solutions.
The approval comes at a crucial time for India’s packaging industry as recycled-content obligations under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules continue to become more stringent. For Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, mandatory recycled-content requirements have been set at 40% for FY 2026–27, 50% for FY 2027–28, and 60% from FY 2028–29 onwards.
These regulations are expected to significantly boost demand for domestically produced, food-grade recycled materials across the beverage, food, and FMCG sectors, as companies seek reliable local sources of compliant rPET to meet both regulatory and sustainability commitments.
Developed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle platform, the Sanand facility combines food-grade rPET resin production with downstream packaging manufacturing capabilities, enabling enhanced traceability, supply-chain reliability, and quality consistency. This integrated approach positions Chemco among a select group of packaging manufacturers capable of supporting large-scale recycled-content packaging requirements for global consumer brands.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is expected to generate skilled employment opportunities, strengthen Gujarat’s position as a manufacturing and sustainability hub, and contribute to India’s broader goals of resource efficiency, waste reduction, and circular manufacturing.