India’s food safety regulator has approved the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in food-contact applications, marking a key step toward advancing the country’s circular economy goals.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced an amendment to the 2018 Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, authorizing the use of recycled PET for packaging, storing, transporting, and dispensing food. The amendment was officially published in the Gazette of India on March 28, making the decision legally binding.

According to the new clause, such materials can be used in food packaging “as and when standards and guidelines are notified by the Food Authority,” and must comply with all relevant national standards or regulations.

Industry leaders have welcomed the move, predicting a significant rise in demand for recycled PET. “This is a major development that will accelerate the adoption of recycled PET in food packaging,” said Shailendra Singh, director general of the Indian Association of PET Recyclers (APR Bharat). “It will provide a strong boost to the country’s circular economy.”

The timing of the approval aligns with India’s upcoming regulatory shift under the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Beginning April 1, 2025, rigid plastic packaging such as beverage bottles must include at least 30% recycled PET content.

India currently has a commissioned PET recycling capacity of 400,000 metric tons annually. According to APR Bharat, recyclers are well prepared to meet the rising demand. The organization said recent investments totaling up to INR 8,000 crore (approximately $950 million) have been made in state-of-the-art recycling facilities.

One notable example is a joint effort by Indorama Ventures and Varun Beverages, the largest PepsiCo bottler outside the United States. The partners plan to construct multiple mechanical recycling plants with a combined capacity of 100,000 tons per year.

India’s PET recycling sector is projected to generate 10,000 new jobs and positively impact more than 2 million waste pickers. The country aims to nearly double its recycling capacity to 750,000 tons by 2027 and reach 1.1 million tons by 2030.

In comparison, Europe’s PET mechanical recycling capacity for flake production was 3 million tons in 2022, with Germany leading at 630,000 tons annually, according to Plastics Recyclers Europe.

India has also introduced new labeling rules for plastic packaging, effective July 1. These regulations aim to improve traceability of plastic waste and enforce accountability under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework.