<p>Bengaluru: The delay in granting of licences by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the factories set up for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) could push a majority of them into bankruptcy, the Association of PET Recyclers - Bharat (APR), said in a press note on Monday.</p>.<p>While five of these companies have been granted licenses by FSSAI, as many as 15 fully commissioned plants are awaiting clearance from the regulator to commence commercial production, after setting up shop in January 2025.</p>.<p>The delay in production could lead to investments of around Rs 8,000 crore, going to waste. Half of these were funded with bank loans, which could turn into non-performing assets (NPA).</p>.Plastic poison: It’s creeping up on you.<p>“Prime Minister Modi’s statements on the push for sustainability enthused our members and they got the world's best technology, matching international standards and set up a plant. We even invited members from FSSAI and others to verify the plants and did everything the government wanted us to but we are being left high and dry due to their casual attitude,” Shailendra Singh, Director General, APR Bharat told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span>.</p>.<p>Plastic Waste Management Rules were introduced in 2016 with industry stakeholders being involved in the making of the regulation. Since then, various amendments have been made based on industry feedback and issues. In 2022, there was a mandate for companies to use 30% recycled food-grade plastic, which was to come into effect from April 1, 2025.</p>.<p>These guidelines, which should have been in place at least 2-3 months before April 1, 2025, were actually notified only in the last week of May 2025, pushing the timeline for issuing licenses further.</p>.<p>“Brands are unable to comply with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India’s mandate, as there isn’t enough recycled capacity. Hence, there was an expectation that the government will announce some sort of referral, either in timeline or will reduce the target but neither of that has happened,” Singh added.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The delay in granting of licences by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to the factories set up for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) could push a majority of them into bankruptcy, the Association of PET Recyclers - Bharat (APR), said in a press note on Monday.</p>.<p>While five of these companies have been granted licenses by FSSAI, as many as 15 fully commissioned plants are awaiting clearance from the regulator to commence commercial production, after setting up shop in January 2025.</p>.<p>The delay in production could lead to investments of around Rs 8,000 crore, going to waste. Half of these were funded with bank loans, which could turn into non-performing assets (NPA).</p>.Plastic poison: It’s creeping up on you.<p>“Prime Minister Modi’s statements on the push for sustainability enthused our members and they got the world's best technology, matching international standards and set up a plant. We even invited members from FSSAI and others to verify the plants and did everything the government wanted us to but we are being left high and dry due to their casual attitude,” Shailendra Singh, Director General, APR Bharat told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span>.</p>.<p>Plastic Waste Management Rules were introduced in 2016 with industry stakeholders being involved in the making of the regulation. Since then, various amendments have been made based on industry feedback and issues. In 2022, there was a mandate for companies to use 30% recycled food-grade plastic, which was to come into effect from April 1, 2025.</p>.<p>These guidelines, which should have been in place at least 2-3 months before April 1, 2025, were actually notified only in the last week of May 2025, pushing the timeline for issuing licenses further.</p>.<p>“Brands are unable to comply with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India’s mandate, as there isn’t enough recycled capacity. Hence, there was an expectation that the government will announce some sort of referral, either in timeline or will reduce the target but neither of that has happened,” Singh added.</p>