UFlex Ltd., India’s largest flexible packaging solutions company, has achieved a significant milestone by securing approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its process of recycling polyethylene (PE) for use in food packaging. This makes UFlex the first Indian company to receive such approval, marking a major advancement in reducing plastic waste and assisting global brands in meeting their sustainability goals.
UFlex’s recycling method is categorized as super-clean, capable of removing over 95% of ink from post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. This advanced process meets international standards and strengthens the company’s commitment to supporting the global shift toward a circular economy.
To further enhance its recycling capabilities, UFlex is investing INR 317 crores (USD 38 million) into state-of-the-art recycling technologies. This includes the establishment of two new recycling plants in Noida, India, with a combined capacity to process 39,600 metric tons of plastic waste annually. These plants will produce recycled polyethylene (rPE) and recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) for use in food packaging, supporting India’s growing focus on sustainability and evolving regulatory frameworks.
“In line with the Indian government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation, we are proud to make this significant investment to boost our recycling capabilities,” said Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai, Whole Time Director and Director of Sustainability at UFlex. “This will empower brand owners to meet their EPR obligations and set a global benchmark for sustainable packaging.”
Mr Pillai emphasized that innovation and sustainability have always been at the core of UFlex’s strategy. “Three decades ago, we recognized the potential of recycling multi-layered plastic waste, which was once considered impossible to recycle. Our early investments in this space proved that innovation could bring about meaningful change.”
With the USFDA approval for food-contact recycling, UFlex has become the first Indian company to achieve such a feat, setting a precedent for sustainable packaging solutions globally. The company is also seeking USFDA certification to recycle polypropylene (PP), which would make it the first in the flexible packaging industry to offer recycling solutions for all three materials—PET, PE, and PP—used in food packaging.
Currently, no specific guidelines exist for using recycled polyethylene (rPE) in food packaging, although there are mandatory requirements under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to incorporate recycled content. UFlex is actively collaborating with industry stakeholders and government bodies like FSSAI and BIS to develop guidelines for the safe and sustainable use of rPE in food packaging.
The aim is to ensure that industry practices adhere to the highest standards of food safety while contributing to a circular economy. UFlex operates recycling plants in India, Poland, Egypt, and Mexico, where it processes multi-layer mixed plastics (MLP), aseptic packaging, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste.
It is the only Indian company actively working on innovative solutions for flexible MLP and post-consumer recycled (PCR) applications globally. By converting post-consumer waste into high-quality, food-safe materials, UFlex continues to drive innovation while reinforcing its commitment to a circular economy and sustainable packaging solutions.
Founded in 1985, UFlex Limited is India’s largest multinational flexible packaging company. Over the years, UFlex has established a strong presence across all verticals of the packaging value chain, including packaging films, chemicals, aseptic liquid packaging, flexible packaging, holography, engineering, and printing cylinders.
