Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is planning to more than double its recycling capacity to 5 billion post-consumer PET bottles by setting up a recycled polyester staple fiber (PSF) manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh.

As a part of this endeavour, Srichakra Ecotex India Pvt. Ltd. will build and operate exclusively for RIL the new recycled PSF – Recron GreenGold and PET flakes wash-line in Andhra Pradesh.

At present, RIL converts more than 2 billion post-consumer PET bottles into fibers annually. With addition of Srichakra capacity, RIL will be instrumental in converting about 5 billion used PET bottles into value-added fibers.

RIL is focusing on sustaining India’s post-consumer PET recycling rate which is currently the highest in the world.

RIL will empower entrepreneurs to divert post-consumer used packaging from landfills, set up recycling facilities and create wealth from waste throughout the country. RIL is driving various initiatives such as Fashion for Earth in partnership with Lakme Fashion Week and the United Nations in India, Hub Excellence Programme and Circular Design Challenge to inculcate circularity and sustainability concepts in polymer, textile and fashion industries.

Commenting on the development, Vipul Shah, COO - Petrochemicals Business, RIL said, "The expansion of PET Recycling capacity is part of Mukesh Ambani’s vision to transform our legacy business into sustainable, circular and net zero carbon materials business and support the entrepreneurs to take risk throughout the value chain. RIL is committed to development of the entire value chain and it shares expertise and technical know-how with the entrepreneurs to produce top quality products at lowest possible costs. RIL has underwritten the entire production from Srichakra’s facility to provide support for development of the business.”

While expressing pleasure in partnering with RIL, Srinivas Mikkilineni, Director, Srichakra Ecotex Pvt. Ltd. said, “The alliance will propel Srichakra’s commitment to reduce plastic pollution and facilitate both organizations to advance the circular economy for plastic waste in India. RIL’s industry expertise, technical knowledge, and business assurances will allow Srichakra to research, innovate and develop high-quality and sustainable products for RIL’s GreenGold portfolio.”

RIL currently recycled PET bottles at its Barabanki, Hoshiarpur and Nagothane plants. The post-consumer PET bottles are used as a raw material for manufacturing recycled polyester fiber. The fibers manufactured through this process are branded as Recron GreenGold and RIL through its Hub Excellence Partners (HEP) (selected downstream mills) manufactures R | Elan GreenGold fabrics, one of the greenest fabrics in the world.