PPRDC summit explores circularity for food packaging

The sixth Plastic Packaging Research and Development Centre (PPRDC) summit was held on 16 June in New Delhi, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and experts to deliberate on the future of food-grade recycled materials in India.

The event served as a platform for collaboration, with participation from government bodies, brand owners, producers, and recyclers, demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing sustainable packaging.

The summit also marked the official launch of a study report titled Recycling of Post-Consumer Food-grade Polypropylene (PPs) Waste: Sustainable Valorisation of Recycled PP Material, developed by the PPRDC. 

The report presents a scientific and regulatory roadmap for safely incorporating recycled polypropylene (rPP) into food-grade packaging materials — a critical step toward achieving India’s circular economy goals

The study underscores the importance of recycling post-consumer PP waste and integrating rPP into food-contact packaging, while emphasising the need for strict compliance with global food safety standards, such as those set by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Polypropylene (PP), despite being the second-most widely produced plastic globally, has a low recycling rate of just 3–5%. The report presents a comprehensive solution, utilising advanced multi-point decontamination and double-filtration technologies to safely incorporate up to 60% post-consumer recycled polypropylene (PP) into the core layer of multi-layered flexible packaging for food contact materials (FCMs), without compromising on food safety or packaging performance.

Deepak Mishra, joint secretary of the department of chemicals and petrochemicals in the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers of the Government of India, said, “As a regulatory authority, we recognise the significant progress the industry has made in enhancing recycling capacities, particularly for PET, to align with the objectives of the EPR framework. The recent policy facilitation, including exemptions in cases of technical non-feasibility, has been introduced to support a balanced and pragmatic transition. However, it is equally important for the industry to proactively advance standards and processes for recycling other materials like PE and PP.”

Prabh Das, managing director and chief executive officer at HPCL-Mittal Energy (HMEL), said, “We urge the industry stakeholders to lead the development of a clear framework for materials and practices that currently fall outside the scope of existing government guidelines. Such an initiative will help bring greater clarity and confidence, while accelerating our collective journey toward a more circular and sustainable packaging ecosystem.”

Jacob Duer, president and CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, commented, “As the world grapples with the growing challenge of plastic waste, no single entity can solve this issue alone. What we need is a collective, committed effort across governments, the private sector, financial institutions, and communities. At the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, we see both an urgent challenge and a tremendous opportunity to unlock value, drive innovation, and build the infrastructure necessary for a truly circular economy. India, with its rapidly growing economy, progressive policies, and thriving innovation ecosystem, stands at the forefront of this movement.”

Ashok Chaturvedi, chairman and managing director of UFlex, remarked, “It is time we stop waiting for regulations to push us into action. I urge all brand owners, producers, recyclers, and packaging converters to stand together, not out of obligation but toward a common good and shared responsibility.This is a call from within, from one industry leader to all others: let us be remembered not for our packaging, but for the legacy of responsibility we leave behind.”

Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai, trustee of the PPRDC; and director of sustainability and president of flexible packaging and new product development at UFlex, added, “At UFlex, we’ve made significant strides in using rPE and rPP in the core layer of the co-extrusion process, which ensures that recycled material remains safely away from food contact layers. This innovation, along with AI-enabled sorting and advanced decontamination processes, positions us to meet India’s EPR requirements while maintaining the highest standards of food safety. We believe this collaborative, science-led approach is essential for building a truly circular economy for flexible packaging in India.”

Mihir Banerji, secretary general, PPRDC, concluded, “While there are currently no specific guidelines governing the use of recycled polypropylene (rPP) in food packaging, this presents a tremendous opportunity for India to lead with a progressive, science-backed regulatory framework. With the right guidance in place, India can unlock the full potential of food-grade rPP, enabling innovation, reducing dependency on virgin plastics, and supporting the nation’s circular economy and environmental goals.”

The summit featured robust discussions on regulatory evolution, EPR implementation, and the critical role of advanced recycling technologies in transforming India's plastic packaging industry into a circular and sustainable model.