New FSSAI-compliant innovation aims to help brands meet 30% recycled content mandate by FY26
Flexible packaging major UFlex has launched a new single-pellet solution for recycled PET (rPET) to help fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies comply with upcoming packaging regulations. The product, approved by FSSAI and USFDA, is designed to seamlessly blend recycled PET with virgin PET, enabling manufacturers to meet the mandatory requirement of using 30% rPET content in their packaging by FY26.
The announcement comes at a critical time for the food and beverage industry, as India’s regulatory framework under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandate is becoming more stringent. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently issued guidelines allowing the use of recycled plastics in food-contact applications, accelerating industry demand for compliant and scalable solutions.
According to the company, the newly launched pellet combines high-purity recycled and virgin PET into a single granule with excellent mechanical and thermal stability. “The resin ensures high clarity, strength, and low acetaldehyde levels, and is compatible with existing PET manufacturing lines, making it a plug-and-play solution that avoids costly equipment upgrades,” UFlex said in a statement.
Ashish Saxena, Joint President – Packaging Films Business, UFlex, called the launch a potential “game-changer” for FMCG brands. “As regulations evolve, companies will need turnkey solutions that don’t disrupt existing operations. Our single-pellet rPET is one such innovation, making compliance easier and cost-effective,” he said.
The launch is part of UFlex’s broader sustainability push. The company recently announced a ₹317 crore investment to build two new recycling facilities in Noida, further strengthening its commitment to plastic waste management in India.
“With global recycling capacity already at 72,300 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA), and an additional 39,600 MTPA expected soon, we’re building one of the industry’s most robust recycling ecosystems,” the company said. UFlex has so far recycled more than 5 billion post-consumer PET bottles globally.
In FY25 alone, the company processed 8,200 metric tonnes of mixed flexible waste. UFlex operates advanced recycling facilities in India, Poland, Egypt, and Mexico, and remains the only Indian player actively innovating in the space of both mixed flexible plastic waste and post-consumer recycled (PCR) applications.
With regulatory deadlines looming and consumer demand for sustainable packaging rising, UFlex’s single-pellet solution may offer food and beverage companies a timely pathway to eco-friendly, compliant packaging, without compromising on performance or requiring infrastructure overhaul.