Indian plastic packaging manufacturer Chemco Group has announced it has commissioned a food-grade rPET recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat, designed to offer end-to-end bottle-to-bottle recycling at an industrial scale.
Said to represent a capital investment of approximately Rs. 125 crore, the facility is designed to recycle ‘over 1 billion’ post-consumer PET bottles annually, converting them back into high-quality, food-grade recycled PET (rPET) suitable for direct food and beverage packaging applications. Chemco states the recycled PET produced at the facility is US FDA and EFSA approved and fully compliant with FSSAI requirements for food-contact applications in India.
The operations are also said to adhere to all applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) governing plastic recycling and recycled PET materials. By establishing in-house recycling capabilities, Chemco says it enables its brand partners to meet recycled-content mandates, extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations, and sustainability commitments without compromising on performance or food safety.
The company adds that the Sanand facility has been developed as a closed-loop operation to ensure complete control across the recycling value chain. This approach aims to improve traceability, reduce dependency on external suppliers and lower the environmental impact associated with long logistics routes.
Last year Chemco Group and Kandoi Group revealed a strategic joint venture to build two manufacturing facilities for producing FIBC (Flexible Intermediate Bulk Container) bags from recycled PET (rPET). The facilities will offer a closed-loop system from PET bottle collection and washing to tape extrusion, weaving, and final bag fabrication, aiming to ensure full traceability, consistent quality and reduced environmental impact.
In related news, The European PET Bottle Platform (EPBP) unveiled its Circularity Test Protocol last summer, intending to help industry stakeholders adjust to multi-loop recycling and pursue environmental targets as incoming EU policies set minimum thresholds for rPET content. The new protocol aims to help industry players maximize resource use, extend product lifespans, facilitate effective recycling, and minimize waste.
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