The authorisation follows the recent commissioning of Chemco’s large-scale bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat, established with an investment of approximately Rs. 125 crore. The integrated facility has been designed to recycle more than one billion post-consumer PET bottles annually and convert them into high-quality food-grade recycled PET resin for food and beverage packaging applications.
The facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art Starlinger bottle-to-bottle recycling system that incorporates globally recognised recycling technology specifically developed for food-contact applications. It has been built to comply with India’s food-contact regulatory framework under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, as well as applicable Bureau of Indian Standards requirements governing recycled PET materials.
Chemco stated that the compliance framework is supported by comprehensive quality, traceability and food safety systems, including FSSC 22000 certification. The facility also follows recycling process frameworks recognised by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority for food-contact recycled PET applications.
The approval represents a major regulatory achievement for India’s recycled plastics sector, where stringent standards govern recycled materials intended for direct contact with food and beverages. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, manufacturers must demonstrate strong traceability, process controls, testing procedures and compliance systems to ensure material safety and suitability for food-contact use.
Commenting on the development, Vaibhav Saraogi, Director of Chemco Group, said that receiving FSSAI authorisation for food-grade rPET was an important milestone not only for the company but also for the broader development of circular packaging infrastructure in India. He noted that increasing demand for compliant recycled content, particularly in food and beverage packaging, requires credible domestic manufacturing capabilities backed by regulatory discipline, traceability and consistent quality standards. He added that the company’s investment in bottle-to-bottle recycling was made with a long-term objective of supporting sustainability and supply-chain reliability for brand owners. According to Saraogi, the approval reinforces Chemco’s ability to offer food-grade recycled material that meets stringent safety and compliance requirements while supporting India’s shift toward circular packaging.
The approval comes at a critical time for India’s packaging industry as mandatory recycled-content obligations under the Plastic Waste Management Rules continue to become more stringent. For Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, minimum recycled-content requirements have been fixed at 40 per cent for financial year 2026-27, 50 per cent for financial year 2027-28 and 60 per cent from financial year 2028-29 onwards. These requirements are expected to drive significant demand for domestically produced and compliant food-grade recycled materials, particularly in beverage, food and fast-moving consumer goods packaging applications.
Industry stakeholders are increasingly seeking reliable local sources of food-grade rPET capable of supporting both regulatory compliance and long-term sustainability goals. Chemco’s Sanand facility has been developed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle platform, enhancing the company’s ability to provide compliant recycled packaging solutions through an end-to-end manufacturing model.
By integrating food-grade rPET resin production with downstream packaging capabilities across the Group, Chemco aims to deliver greater traceability, supply-chain reliability and quality consistency. The company stated that this integrated approach places it among a limited number of packaging manufacturers globally capable of supporting large-scale recycled-content packaging requirements for leading consumer brands.
Beyond its environmental impact, the project is expected to generate skilled employment opportunities, strengthen Gujarat’s position as a manufacturing and sustainability hub, and contribute to India’s broader objectives of resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular manufacturing.
With FSSAI authorisation now in place, Chemco has further strengthened its position as a long-term partner for companies seeking credible, compliant and scalable food-grade recycled packaging solutions in India.
Chemco Group has more than four decades of operational experience across plastics and polymer-based products. The company operates a diversified network spanning more than 23 locations across India, the Middle East and the United States, serving leading domestic and international brands across multiple sectors. Chemco processes more than 125,000 tonnes of plastic polymers annually and has established capabilities in rigid and flexible packaging, technical textiles, medical devices, baby care products and sustainable materials. The company continues to focus on responsible manufacturing, regulatory compliance, operational scale and long-term value creation, with sustainability and circularity remaining central to its growth strategy.
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