UFlex introduces FSSAI-compliant single-pellet solution

UFlex has introduced an FSSAI-compliant single-pellet solution for recycled PET (rPET) in food and beverage packaging. This innovation assists food and beverage brands in meeting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations.

The product integrates rPET with virgin PET in a single pellet. This pellet offers purity, mechanical stability, and thermal stability. Packages made from this resin demonstrate high clarity and strength and feature lower acetaldehyde content. The resin is compatible with existing PET manufacturing lines, removing the need for new infrastructure investment.

The solution aligns with FSSAI guidelines supporting India's EPR framework. Effective 1 April 2025, new rules mandate that brands using Category-1 rigid plastic packaging, such as PET bottles, incorporate at least 30% recycled content by FY26. UFlex’s innovation complies with FSSAI’s definition of food contact material-recycled PET (FCM-rPET), requiring a validated decontamination process. The solution meets national and international safety standards, including United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approval.

Resins with 30% recycled PET

Ashish Saxena, joint president of the packaging films business at UFlex, stated, “Since our inception, we have always been committed to pioneering sustainable packaging solutions. We are pleased to offer our latest innovation, the single-pellet solution, which will be a game-changer for food and beverage brands striving to meet EPR compliance under the new FSSAI guidelines. Our recent announcement of an INR 317-crore investment in two new recycling plants in Noida is a strong reaffirmation of our commitment to India’s plastic waste management vision. As regulations become more robust, we aim to set the benchmark for responsible production and scalable, sustainable packaging solutions in India and beyond.”

UFlex is the sole Indian company with approval from the USFDA for its technology to recycle rPET, rPE, and rPP for food packaging. The company has a global recycling capacity of 72,300-metric tonnes per annum, with an additional 39,600-metric tonnes per annum soon to be commissioned. UFlex has recycled over five-billion post-consumer PET bottles, converting them into raw materials for packaging solutions. In FY25, UFlex recycled 8,200-metric tonnes of mixed flexible waste. The company has established recycling plants across India, Poland, Egypt, and Mexico.