Transitioning to recyclable flexible packaging: key to a circular plastics economy

Multi-layered packaging is the most popular type and is widely used and manufactured by small-scale manufacturers for whom cost is the primary consideration. This results in a variety of flexible packaging compositions placed on the market, which are not recyclable. Also, flexible packaging is commonly used to pack snacks and food products, with a tendency to be used on-the-go and hence disposed on-the-go, as well. Because they are lightweight and cannot be recycled, they are not collected, and create waste management challenges. 

The solution

As a first step, businesses can develop packaging structures that are recyclable. At a high-level, brands will need to transition from non-recyclable, multi-material, multi-layer flexible packaging to recyclable, mono-polymer, packaging with the potential for recycling at scale in India. This transition will encourage recyclers to set up and develop systems for collection and recycling of flexible packaging.

The Government of India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Guidelines were notified in February 2022; they contain targets for flexible film recycling and the use of recycled content back into packaging. This notification has sent a strong signal to industry that a move to recyclable formats is needed. 

Many packaging manufacturers provide recyclable flexible packaging options. However, for brands and retailers a move away from the traditionally used multilayer nonrecyclable packaging to recyclable packaging requires time, effort, and money to run trials. This is not always within the reach of brands as it translates to a loss in revenue. To support brands in this transition, in May 2024, the Confederation of Indian Industry (under the India Plastics Pact initiative, a voluntary business initiative for stakeholders across the plastics value chain to create a circular economy for plastic packaging), launched a call for solutions demonstrating the viability of transitioning from multi-layered non-recyclable packaging to mono-polymer recyclable packaging. 

Becoming a part of the solution: eligibility and requirements

The call for solutions/demonstrations is open to FMCG brands and converters registered in India. 

The product proposed in the solution must be produced and sold in India, although the film used for the pilot could be imported. The proposed mono-polymer film must be acceptable for recycling by recyclers in India. The deadline for submission of applications is 5 July 2024. 

Successful applicants will be required to test the solution in the Indian market to demonstrate whether the packaging is acceptable from a functional, performance, and recyclability perspective. Brands and converters may partner with waste management organisations and recyclers for project execution. A webinar is being organised on 6th June to share more information on the trials. 

The transition to recyclable, mono-polymer flexible packaging for high-volume selling products will help meet the Government of India’s EPR targets, as well as the India Plastics Pact’s 2030 targets, leading to a circular economy for plastic packaging in India.

Nandini Kumar leads the activities on circular economy and the India Plastics Pact, whose secretariat is housed at the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Interested persons can get in touch: ippaction@cii.in