In a landmark move for India’s bio-based materials sector, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML), through its PLA vertical Balrampur Bioyug, has received its first official institutional order from the Lucknow Cantonment Board (LCB).
The order includes compostable garbage bags (two sizes), 300 ml PLA bottles, 3D-printed PLA pens, and PLA folders — all crafted from renewable, 100% compostable Polylactic Acid (PLA) with a low carbon footprint and no microplastics.
Spread over 6,760 acres, the Lucknow Cantonment Board operates under the administrative control of the Director General of Defence Estates, Ministry of Defence. By integrating PLA products into daily operations, LCB positions itself as one of the first defence-linked institutions to embrace sustainable, circular-material solutions.
The move complements LCB’s sustainability initiatives, including partnerships with IIT Kanpur to create waste- and carbon-neutral systems and active participation in the nationwide Swachhata Hi Seva campaign.
Notably, the order arrives ahead of the commissioning of India’s first domestic industrial-scale PLA plant by BCML in Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for October 2026, reflecting strong institutional confidence in homegrown bio-based innovation. The effort builds on the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its DFRL lab, which produced India’s first PLA water bottle in Mysuru in September 2023.
To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, Balrampur Bioyug and LCB will host a ceremonial event in Lucknow Cantonment, formalizing the large-scale adoption of PLA-based bioplastics. Representatives from the Ministry of Defence and other stakeholders will attend, underscoring a shared commitment to sustainability and reducing single-use plastics in defence establishments.
Shri Abhishek Rathour, CEO, Lucknow Cantonment Board, said during the MoU signing: "Lucknow Cantonment Board has systematically strengthened waste management practices and enforced a ban on single-use plastic items to reduce our carbon footprint. The adoption of PLA-bioplastic items into routine operational frameworks reflects our commitment to embedding sustainability into everyday governance and aligning defence establishments with India’s long-term climate and circular economy goals.”
Avantika Saraogi, Executive Director, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, added: “This order from the Lucknow Cantonment Board represents more than a procurement milestone as it signals institutional trust in India’s emerging biopolymer capabilities. The adoption of compostable PLA products across operational categories demonstrates that sustainable materials are no longer experimental alternatives, but credible, performance-oriented solutions for large-scale institutional use.”
Amid growing concerns over single-use plastics and microplastic contamination, this procurement marks a decisive shift toward bio-based alternatives.
