Chemco Group has received authorization from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manufacture food-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin for direct food-contact applications, marking a significant milestone for India’s circular packaging and recycling ecosystem.
The approval places Chemco among a select group of Indian companies authorized to produce food-grade rPET resin compliant with the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, enabling its use in food and beverage packaging applications.
The development follows the commissioning of Chemco’s bottle-to-bottle recycling facility at Sanand, Gujarat, built with an investment of approximately ₹125 crore. The facility has the capacity to recycle more than one billion post-consumer PET bottles annually and convert them into food-grade recycled resin suitable for packaging applications.
According to the company, the facility is equipped with advanced bottle-to-bottle recycling technology and has been developed to meet stringent food-contact safety requirements. It is supported by quality management, traceability and food safety systems, including FSSC 22000 certification, while also aligning with internationally recognised recycling standards.
Industry experts view the approval as a major boost for India’s recycled plastics sector, where food-contact applications are subject to rigorous regulatory oversight. Manufacturers are required to demonstrate robust process controls, traceability systems and safety testing to ensure recycled materials are suitable for use in food packaging.
Commenting on the development, Vaibhav Saraogi, Director of Chemco Group, said the approval strengthens the company’s ability to supply compliant food-grade recycled materials as demand for sustainable packaging solutions continues to rise.
“Receiving FSSAI authorisation 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 increases, building credible domestic manufacturing capabilities supported by traceability, quality standards and regulatory compliance becomes essential,” he said.
The approval comes at a crucial time for the packaging industry as recycled-content obligations under India’s Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules become progressively stricter. For Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, minimum recycled-content requirements have been set at 40% for FY27, increasing to 50% in FY28 and 60% from FY29 onwards.
Industry stakeholders expect these mandates to significantly increase demand for domestically produced food-grade rPET, particularly among beverage, food and FMCG companies seeking to meet sustainability commitments while complying with regulatory requirements.
Chemco said its Sanand facility has been designed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle recycling platform, combining recycled resin production with downstream packaging capabilities. The integrated model is expected to enhance supply-chain reliability, product traceability and quality consistency for brand owners seeking recycled packaging solutions.
Beyond its environmental benefits, the project is also expected to contribute to employment generation, strengthen Gujarat’s manufacturing ecosystem and support India’s broader goals of resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular economy development.
With the latest approval, Chemco is positioned to support the growing demand for scalable, compliant and food-safe recycled packaging materials as sustainability becomes a key priority across the food and beverage industry.