Chemco Group has commissioned a new food-grade rPET bottle-to-bottle recycling facility at Sanand in Gujarat, representing an investment of approximately ₹125 crore. The project marks a significant development in India’s efforts to strengthen circular plastics manufacturing and expand the use of recycled materials in food and beverage packaging.
The Sanand facility has been designed to process more than one billion post-consumer PET bottles each year, converting them into high-quality recycled PET suitable for direct food-contact applications. With this commissioning, Chemco joins a limited number of Indian manufacturers capable of delivering large-scale, end-to-end bottle-to-bottle recycling while meeting stringent quality and safety requirements.
The plant is located within Gujarat’s established industrial corridor and has been developed in line with global regulatory frameworks. The recycled PET produced at the facility complies with requirements set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and meets standards prescribed by India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for food-grade applications. Operations also adhere to relevant Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines governing plastic recycling and recycled PET materials.
“This project reflects a shift in our approach to sustainability,” said Vaibhav Saraogi, Managing Director of Chemco Group. “By building an integrated recycling operation, we are able to offer customers greater confidence in material traceability, regulatory compliance and long-term supply reliability. It represents a long-term commitment to responsible packaging rather than a short-term solution.”
The commissioning comes as global brands and regulators increase focus on recycled content, emissions reduction and extended producer responsibility obligations. By establishing in-house recycling capability, Chemco enables its customers to meet recycled-content targets and compliance requirements without compromising product performance or food safety.
The Sanand unit operates as a closed-loop system, allowing Chemco to maintain control across the recycling value chain. This approach improves traceability, reduces reliance on external suppliers and limits the environmental impact associated with long-distance transportation. The scale of the operation supports consistent output volumes and quality levels required by large beverage, FMCG and food companies.
In addition to environmental benefits, the facility contributes to regional industrial development by creating skilled employment and reinforcing Gujarat’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainability-focused investment. The project aligns with national priorities around waste reduction, resource efficiency and circular manufacturing.
With more than three decades of experience in PET packaging, Chemco supplies rigid and flexible packaging solutions to domestic and international brands. The addition of large-scale rPET recycling strengthens its position as a long-term partner for companies seeking compliant and scalable sustainable packaging solutions. The company plans to build on this platform to support higher recycled-content applications and future capacity expansion.
