Lok Sabha Question No. 2679 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Mandatory usage of PET Packaging Bottles
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2679

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## Mandatory usage of PET Packaging Bottles

## 2679:   SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is planning to implement its deadline of 1st April 2025 relating to the mandatory usage of 30% recycled plastic content into Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) packaging bottles by beverage manufacturers;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor, including reasons for formulating such a policy;
- (c) whether  the  adverse  impact  on  beverage  manufacturers,  export  of  PET  resin,  food safety has been taken into account while taking the above policy decision, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the likely increase in costs as a result of this policy would eventually harm the consumers  as  such  additional  costs  may  reflect  on  the  pricing  of  products  of manufacturers;
- (e) whether the Government has assessed if there are adequate Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) certified recycling facilities in the country for purposes of implementing such a policy; and
- (f) whether any fiscal incentives have been provided for establishing recycling plants or tie-ups with recycling plants in relation to this policy, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (f): The  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  had  notified  the Guidelines for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on Plastic Packaging on 16 th  February 2022. The Guidelines inter alia mandate targets on recycling of plastic packaging waste, reuse of  rigid  plastic  packaging  and  use  of  recycled  plastic  content.  The  guidelines  provide  for moving  towards  sustainable  plastic  packaging  and  reducing  the  plastic  foot  print.  The mandatory targets on use of recycled plastic content were made applicable from the financial year 2025 - 26, three years after the notification of the EPR Guidelines, in order to provide adequate time to the industry to prepare for the targets.

The Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility for plastic packaging were notified after following  due  process  of  stakeholder  consultation.  Already,  the  EPR  Guidelines  provide mechanism to deal with cases where it is not  possible to  meet the  obligation  in  respect of recycled plastic content on account of statutory requirements. The exemption in such cases will be granted by Central Pollution Control Board on case-to-case basis. In case any difficulty in implementation  of  the  policy  is  flagged  by  the  industry/stakeholders,  the  same  is  duly considered by the Ministry and necessary action is taken, as deemed appropriate.

Environmentally sound management of plastic packaging waste through implementation of EPR by producers, importers and brand owners, who introduce the plastic packaging in the market will lead reduction in pollution caused by littered and unmanaged plastic packaging waste. The implementation of the EPR Guidelines on plastic packaging will also lead to the further  development  of  waste  processing  infrastructure  including  recycling  units.  As  per information available on the centralized EPR portal for plastic packaging, 2716 plastic waste processors are registered on the portal. Around, 114 lakh tonnes of plastic packaging waste has been processed since 2022.

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