Prominent beverage corporations, such as Coke, Parle Agro, Bisleri, are investigating legal alternatives to the Indian government’s requirement that bottles contain 30% recycled PET (rPET) as of April 1, 2025.
Representatives of the industry contend that the deadline is unrealistic because of inadequate infrastructure for recycling, a lack of materials, and growing expenses, especially as summer demand peaks.
Beverage Companies Considering Legal Alternatives To Government’s PET Packaging Bottles
This directive was released more than two years ago by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as a component of the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules in India.
According to beverage companies, the industry is still not ready for the shift, even with the longer timeline.
Made from fossil fuels, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is a common plastic used in textiles and packaging that is renowned for its strength and capacity to be recycled.
In order to lessen dependency on virgin plastic, rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) is created from post-consumer PET waste, processed into flakes, melted, and then used again in packaging, textiles, and sheets.
In order to encourage domestic recycling, India banned the import of plastic waste, including PET bottles, in 2015. However, imports for special economic zones (SEZs) were later permitted.
Due to concerns about littering, the 2016 PWM Rules prohibited plastic sachets for pan masala, tobacco, and gutkha and instructed states and UTs to establish task forces to combat single-use plastics (SUPs).
Major SUP users, e-commerce companies, and manufacturers of plastic packaging were told to phase out SUPs; state-by-state implementation varied.
In order to improve India’s waste management system and stop foreign dumping, the Environment Ministry completely prohibited the importation of plastic waste in 2019.
The government’s decision to prohibit the importation of plastic waste was influenced by the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Manch (PDUSM) campaign.
Following industry reports of shortages, India lifted its ban on the import of PET bottles in 2021. Seven companies applied to import 93,000 tonnes of PET waste from the US, Canada, and Germany.
MoEFCC To Use 30% rPET in Rigid Packaging
Beginning April 1, 2025, and increasing by 10% annually, the MoEFCC requires beverage manufacturers to use 30% rPET in rigid packaging, such as PET bottles, with a goal of 60% by 2027–2028.
In a meeting with the Central Pollution Control Board in December, industry representatives contended that supply shortages make the 30% rPET requirement impractical.
Instead of 10%, the industry suggested a different plan that would begin with a 15% rPET obligation and increase by 5% yearly.
Only five plants approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) currently produce food-grade rPET, which only satisfies 15% of industry demand. Expanding recycling capacity takes two to three years.
An estimated 30% increase in bottling costs is anticipated, some of which might be transferred to customers.
Smaller businesses may use inferior recyclers if they are unable to obtain certified rPET, which could raise safety and legal issues.
70% of beverage packaging is made of plastic bottles, which are more cost-effective and more transportable than glass or aluminum.
Without sufficient infrastructure, a sudden spike in rPET content could cause supply chains to break down.
According to government representatives, there is little chance of a deadline extension because businesses have had enough time to comply.
Industry leaders caution that the strict timeline may cause them to file a lawsuit for an anticipatory stay, which could postpone implementation.
