**India**: Tetra Pak announces the introduction of packaging materials made with certified recycled polymers, a first for India, aligning with new regulations and promoting sustainability in the food and beverage sector. This initiative aims to enhance recycling efforts and support a low-carbon circular economy.
Tetra Pak, a global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, has announced a groundbreaking development in India’s food and beverage packaging sector. On April 5, 2025, the company revealed that it will introduce packaging materials made with certified recycled polymers, marking a first for the industry in India. This advancement aligns with the country’s new regulations under the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2022, which mandate the integration of a minimum of 5% certified recycled polymers in packaging to come into effect on April 1, 2025.
The packaging materials offered by Tetra Pak have been certified by ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification), a globally recognised sustainability standard. This certification assures that the recycled content integrated into the carton packages is eligible and responsibly sourced. Cassio Simoes, Managing Director of Tetra Pak South Asia, expressed pride in the company’s innovative achievement, stating, “We are proud to be the first carton packaging producer to bring packaging material with 5% certified recycled polymers to India. This recycled content is being sourced from India, and the packaging material is also being made at our ISCC PLUS-certified factory in Chakan, Pune.”
The initiative is a significant move towards Tetra Pak’s ongoing commitment to circularity and sustainability, which involves reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and maximising the reuse of materials. The company aims to enhance recycling efforts and create partnerships that improve collection and recycling infrastructure globally. “We applaud the commitment of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change to promoting circularity, and for making India one of the first countries in the world to introduce this regulation as early as 2025,” Simoes added.
The recycled polymers will be sourced and allocated according to the ISCC mass balance attribution method. This innovative approach utilises chemical recycling technology to ensure that the packaging material comprises a blend of recycled and non-recycled substances, with stringent tracking throughout Tetra Pak’s supply chain. Notably, the chemically recycled plastics must comply with the same international food contact regulations as traditional virgin polymers, ensuring safety and quality.
Further discussing the future of sustainable packaging, Simoes remarked, “The transition to mainstream adoption of materials like plant-based and recycled polymers is still a work in progress. At Tetra Pak, we remain committed to collaborating with our partners and customers to drive innovation and find synergies. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that all our packaging is made from renewable or recycled polymers, eliminating reliance on fossil feedstock. Achieving this vision requires collective action from businesses and other stakeholders to accelerate the shift toward a low-carbon circular economy.”
This initiative by Tetra Pak represents a notable step forward in the industry’s landscape, aiming to align with national sustainability goals and contribute to a broader global movement towards environmentally responsible packaging solutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Subscribe to Industry Updates
