Indian PET recycler Srichakra Polyplast has commissioned two new Starlinger plastic recycling lines at its facility in Hyderabad city, tripling its recycled PET (rPET) production capacity to 42,000 t/yr.
The firm commissioned the two new bottle-to-bottle recycling lines in the first half of 2024, according to Austrian recycling solutions provider Starlinger on 18 September. Srichakra has been recycling post-consumer PET bottles and polyolefin packaging material using Starlinger technology since 2021.
Srichakra became the first Indian rPET recycler to obtain the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) certification in 2022, allowing them to export products to the European market.
Domestic demand for rPET has been rising because the Indian government implemented the extended producer responsibility scheme, Srichakra's managing director P V Ravindra said. Under the current framework, brand owners and producers are required to include a minimum of 30pc rPET in beverage bottles.
Other participants are also expanding capacities to meet rising demand for rPET in India. Bangkok-headquartered petrochemical firm Indorama Ventures (IVL) earlier this month announced a joint venture to create PET recycling facilities with its India-based subsidiary Dhunseri Petrochem and Indian bottling company Varun Beverages. The joint venture is targeting a rPET production capacity of 100,000 t/yr across all facilities. Construction has already begun at two sites, and is set for completion in 2025. One site is in Kathua city, northern India and the other is in Khordha, eastern India.
