Srichakra Polyplast championing food-grade recycling with pan-India expansion

Srichakra Polyplast, a pioneer in India's recycling sector, particularly in the realm of food-grade plastic, highlighted its commitment to ‘bottle-to-bottle recycling’ at the Plastic Recycling Show India (PRSI) 2025. Speaking to WhatPackaging? magazine, Divyasri Nandipati, sales and marketing at Srichakra Polyplast, emphasised that while conventional recycling has long existed in India, Srichakra was among the first to introduce certified food-grade recycling technology to the country.

The company's vision is rooted in the belief that plastic is an indispensable material used in countless everyday items; the issue lies not with the material itself, but with its improper end-of-life management. By investing in best-in-class, high-end equipment, Srichakra is ensuring that post-consumer waste, primarily PET from the high-consumption beverage, FMCG, and cosmetics industries, is safely returned to food-grade quality.

Central to Srichakra’s operations is the deployment of technology, largely sourced from market leaders, particularly from Austria. The company currently operates four Starlinger lines for PET recycling, with three based at its main facility in Hyderabad. These lines boast an annual recycling capacity of 56,000-metric tonnes, focused primarily on PET (water and cold drink bottles). In addition to PET, Srichakra processes polyolefins like HDPE (used in cleaning products such as Dettol and Harpic bottles) and PP (used in caps and closures).

The company utilises sorting technologies from industry leaders like Sesotec and Tomra, coupled with in-house testing capabilities covering both chemical and mechanical aspects. This includes detailed migration, leach, and phthalate studies on every single batch to meet strict brand and regulatory requirements.

Srichakra Polyplast currently aims at establishing a pan-India footprint across the north, east, west, and south regions. The goal is to reach an annual recycling capacity of 1,00,000-metric tonnes. The strategic acquisition of Gujarat-based Safar Ecopet, announced just days before the event, boosts Srichakra’s production capacity and is instrumental to its pan-India growth vision.

Nandipati stressed that the founder’s foresight, anticipating the need for robust regulatory frameworks and voluntary brand-led sustainability initiatives long before they became commonplace, was the driving force behind the company’s pioneering efforts.

Looking ahead, Nandipati expressed optimism for the future of the recycling industry. She asserted that plastic is not likely to be replaced; its reuse and recycling are the only sustainable paths forward. While acknowledging that challenges persist around pricing, scrap availability, and managing the quality after multiple recycling cycles, the industry’s trajectory is clear and promising.

Furthermore, Nandipati highlighted the value of inter-industry dialogue, connecting recyclers with waste collectors, policymakers, and technology providers, as essential for streamlining the circular economy in the country, noting that specialised events like the one being attended help facilitate these crucial connections.