Chemco Group has received authorisation from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manufacture food-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin for direct food-contact applications.
This positions the company among a select group of approved producers in India.
The approval marks a significant step in India's efforts to expand circular packaging solutions as demand for compliant recycled materials accelerates under tightening regulatory mandates.
The authorisation follows the commissioning of Chemco's Rs. 125-crore bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat. Designed to process more than one billion post-consumer PET bottles annually, the plant converts plastic waste into food-grade recycled PET resin for use in food and beverage packaging.
The facility is equipped with Starlinger bottle-to-bottle recycling technology and has been developed to meet India's food-contact packaging regulations and applicable BIS standards.
Chemco said its operations are supported by advanced traceability, quality-control and food-safety systems, including FSSC 22000 certification, while its recycling processes align with frameworks recognised by the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-contact rPET applications.
The FSSAI approval comes at a critical time for India's packaging sector as mandatory recycled-content targets under the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules become increasingly stringent. Recycled-content requirements for Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, are set at 40% in FY2026-27, rising to 50% in FY2027-28 and 60% from FY2028-29 onward.
These regulations are expected to drive substantial demand for domestically produced, food-grade recycled materials as beverage, food and FMCG companies seek reliable sources of compliant recycled content.
Commenting on the development, Vaibhav Saraogi, Director of Chemco Group, said, “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 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.”
Chemco said the Sanand plant has been developed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle platform, combining food-grade rPET resin production with downstream packaging manufacturing. The company believes this model will enhance traceability, quality consistency and supply-chain reliability for brand owners seeking large-scale recycled-content packaging solutions.
Beyond supporting sustainability goals, the project is expected to generate skilled employment, reinforce Gujarat's position as a manufacturing hub and contribute to India's broader objectives of waste reduction, resource efficiency and circular manufacturing.
With FSSAI approval now secured, Chemco is strengthening its position in India's fast-growing recycled packaging market as brands prepare for stricter recycled-content compliance requirements in the years ahead.
