Chemco to manufacture food-grade rPET resin

India-based Chemco Group, a plastic packaging and manufacturing company, has received authorization from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manufacture food-grade rPET resin for food-contact applications under the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.

The authorization is another step in the company's transition toward a more circular and compliant packaging ecosystem.

The approval follows Chemco’s recent commissioning of its large-scale bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat, representing an investment of approximately 1.25bn USD. The facility was established to recycle more than 1 billion post-consumer PET bottles annually, converting them into food-grade rPET resin suitable for use in food and beverage packaging applications. 

The facility is supported by a Starlinger bottle-to-bottle recycling system, incorporating globally-recognized recycling technology designed for food-contact applications.

The facility meets India’s food-contact regulatory requirements under the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 and applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements governing rPET materials. It is also FSSC 22000-certified and recognized by the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-contact rPET applications.

FSSAI authorization for food-contact applications represents a significant regulatory milestone for India’s recycled plastics sector, given the stringent standards governing recycled materials intended for direct contact with food and beverages. Under the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, manufacturers are required to demonstrate traceability, process control, testing and compliance measures to ensure the safety and suitability of materials for food-contact use.

Commenting on the development, Vaibhav Saraogi, director of 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. Our investment in bottle-to-bottle recycling was made with a long-term view of supporting both sustainability and supply-chain reliability for brand owners. This approval reinforces our ability to offer food-grade recycled material that meets stringent safety and compliance expectations while supporting India’s transition towards circular packaging.'

The approval comes at a particularly important time for India’s packaging industry as mandatory recycled-content obligations under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules continue to tighten. For Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, minimum recycled-content requirements have been prescribed at 40 percent for FY 2026–27, 50 percent for FY 2027–28 and 60 percent from FY 2028–29 onward.

These obligations are expected to significantly increase demand for domestically available, compliant food-grade recycled materials, particularly for beverage, food and FMCG packaging applications. Industry participants are increasingly seeking reliable local sources of food-grade rPET that support both regulatory compliance and long-term sustainability commitments.

The Sanand facility has been developed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle platform, strengthening Chemco’s ability to support brands with compliant recycled packaging through an end-to-end manufacturing approach. By combining food-grade rPET resin production with downstream packaging capabilities within the company, Chemco offers traceability, supply-chain reliability and quality consistency. This integrated model positions it among global packaging manufacturers capable of supporting large-scale recycled-content packaging requirements for leading consumer brands.

Beyond its environmental impact, the project contributes to the generation of skilled employment, strengthens Gujarat’s position as a manufacturing and sustainability hub and supports India’s broader objectives of resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular manufacturing.