Chemco Receives FSSAI Approval to Manufacture Food-Grade rPET Resin for Food Packaging Applications
Chemco Group has received Authorisation supports domestic production of compliant recycled PET as recycled-content requirements tighten under India’s packaging regulations
Chemco Group has received authorisation from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to manufacture food-grade recycled PET (rPET) resin for food contact applications under the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
The approval follows the commissioning of the company’s bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat, and positions Chemco among a limited number of manufacturers in India authorised to produce food-grade rPET suitable for direct food-contact packaging.
Sanand Recycling Facility Supports Large-Scale Production
The approval follows the recent commissioning of Chemco’s bottle-to-bottle recycling facility in Sanand, Gujarat.
Developed with an investment of approximately Rs. 125 crore, the integrated facility has the capacity to recycle more than 1 billion post-consumer PET bottles annually. The recycled material is converted into food-grade rPET resin intended for food and beverage packaging applications.
The facility operates using a Starlinger recoSTAR PET art SSP bottle-to-bottle recycling system designed for food-contact recycled PET production.
Compliance Framework Meets Regulatory Requirements
Chemco stated that the facility has been developed to comply with the requirements of the Food Safety & Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, as well as applicable Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) requirements governing recycled PET materials.
The company said its compliance framework includes quality, traceability and food safety systems supported by FSSC 22000 certification.
The recycling process also incorporates frameworks recognised by the US FDA and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for food-contact recycled PET applications.
FSSAI authorisation requires manufacturers to demonstrate process control, traceability, testing and compliance measures to ensure recycled materials are suitable for food-contact use.
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Chemco’s rPET recycling facility in Gujarat featuring the Starlinger recoSTAR PET art SSP line
Industry Demand Expected to Rise Under PWM Rules
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.”
The approval comes as recycled-content obligations under India’s Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules continue to increase.
For Category I rigid plastic packaging, including PET bottles and containers, minimum recycled-content requirements have been prescribed at:
- 40% for FY 2026–27
- 50% for FY 2027–28
- 60% from FY 2028–29 onwards
These requirements are expected to increase demand for domestically produced food-grade recycled PET materials across beverage, food and FMCG packaging segments.
Integrated Manufacturing Model Supports Packaging Supply Chains
Chemco stated that the Sanand facility has been developed as a fully integrated bottle-to-bottle recycling platform.
The facility combines food-grade rPET resin production with downstream packaging manufacturing capabilities within the Group, supporting traceability, supply-chain management and quality control.
According to the company, this integrated approach enables it to provide recycled-content packaging solutions for consumer brands seeking compliance with evolving packaging regulations and sustainability targets.
The project is also expected to contribute to employment generation, resource efficiency, waste reduction and circular manufacturing initiatives in India.
With the FSSAI authorisation now in place, Chemco has expanded its ability to supply food-grade recycled packaging materials for food-contact applications in the Indian market.