UFlex, a major flexible packaging manufacturer, has introduced a new single-pellet resin that blends recycled PET with virgin PET for direct use in food and beverage packaging. The innovation meets India’s new food safety and sustainability regulations and could significantly ease the transition to recycled content for FMCG brands across the MEA region.
The resin complies with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines and enables companies to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets that mandate 30% recycled content in rigid plastic packaging by FY26. Effective April 2025, these rules apply to commonly used formats like PET bottles. UFlex’s pellet meets national safety norms as well as international benchmarks, including USFDA approval for food contact.
“This will be a game-changer for food and beverage brands striving to meet EPR compliance under the new FSSAI guidelines,” said Ashish Saxena, Joint President – Packaging Films Business, UFlex Limited. “As regulations become more robust, we aim to set the benchmark for responsible production and scalable, sustainable packaging solutions in India and beyond.”
The resin offers thermal and mechanical stability, high clarity, and low acetaldehyde content—key factors for beverage applications. Critically, it works with existing PET manufacturing infrastructure, avoiding the need for new equipment.
With a global recycling capacity of 72,300 metric tonnes per year—and an additional 39,600 MTPA set to come online—UFlex has positioned itself as a major supplier of recycled content for packaging. The company has already recycled over 5 billion PET bottles and processed 8,200 tonnes of mixed flexible waste in FY25.