The Indian PET recycling expert enhances its PET bottle-to-bottle recycling capabilities with two Starlinger recycling lines, reaching a total capacity of 42,000 tons per year. The company aims to recycle 25% of India’s PET bottle waste by 2026.
The newly installed Starlinger recoSTAR PET 165 HC iV+ recycling lines are located at the Ganesha Ecopet Private Ltd. recycling facility in Warangal, Telangana State. As a subsidiary of India’s pioneering PET recycling company, Ganesha Ecosphere Ltd., Ganesha Ecopet already produces recycled PET flakes and pellets suitable for food and drink packaging, in addition to filament yarns and fibers. The previous two Starlinger lines, installed in 2022, laid the groundwork for this expansion. Now operational since mid-2024, the new lines will triple Ganesha Ecopet’s annual production of bottle-grade recycled PET, elevating it from 14,000 tons to 42,000 tons.
EPR and consumer demand boost sustainable product uptake
The surge in demand for food-safe recycled PET in India can be attributed to two primary factors. Firstly, the Indian government has implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations targeting importers, brand owners, and plastic waste processors through the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules introduced in 2022. These rules require systematic collection of plastic waste and mandate that brand owners and producers incorporate a 30% share of post-consumer recycled content in PET bottles by 2025, with an increase to 60% by 2029.
Secondly, shifting consumer preferences in India contribute to this trend, particularly among millennials and Generation Z, who rank sustainability as a key purchasing criterion. As a result, brands are responding by developing supply chains and packaging solutions that prioritize circular and sustainable practices. Recycled PET emerges as a compelling alternative for food and drink sustainable packaging due to its recyclability and reduced carbon footprint, without compromising production scale, durability, or quality.
“Our goal is not only to recycle plastics, but to create premium-quality, sustainable and viable circular solutions for brands,” stated Sharad Sharma, Managing Director at Ganesha Ecosphere. “Recycling is not just an environmentally responsible choice; it is a powerful way to reduce CO2 emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Starlinger’s superior food-grade PET recycling technology, combined with our operational expertise developed over 30 years in the Indian waste recycling market, enables us to push the boundaries of what is possible in PET recycling. Today, we proudly provide the best quality of recycled PET: like-to-like in properties with virgin PET, but with immense environmental savings in carbon emissions and energy. Various global FMCG brands, like Coca-Cola, trust us to create circular packaging solutions that guarantee utmost safety and quality for consumers.”
“Ganesha Ecosphere is one of the trailblazers for a circular plastics economy in India,” remarked Paul Niedl, Commercial Head of Starlinger recycling technology. “With their vast experience in the Indian plastics recycling sector and their commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology, they can transform post-consumer scrap into high-quality secondary raw materials for plastic packaging producers. As a technology developer and supplier, we are proud to support Ganesha Ecosphere in ensuring a clean, healthy, and livable future for our children.”
By concentrating on sustainable production, Ganesha Ecopet significantly reduces process-related carbon emissions by recycling and reusing 95% of the water consumed and increasing the use of renewable energy in plant operations. With a total production capacity of 42,000 tons of food-grade recycled post-consumer PET each year, the company serves markets in India, the US, and Europe. “We are grateful for our partnership with Starlinger and particularly commend their advanced, food-safe bottle-to-bottle recycling technology, as well as their ongoing support, which has made this accomplishment and the circular economy a tangible reality,” Sharad Sharma concluded.
Incentives to enhance India’s waste management sector
Ganesha Ecopet sources post-consumer PET bottles from a variety of channels: both online and offline, working with over 300 suppliers and aggregators throughout India. The Indian government has made a significant push to improve the waste management sector. Thanks to the size and efficiency of the existing informal waste collection network, which recycles approximately 95% of PET waste — one of the highest rates globally — the aim is to optimize existing systems. Several start-ups are addressing various challenges, from piloting deposit return/refund schemes to creating online scrap marketplaces. The government also plays a crucial role by establishing incentives for better Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices while imposing taxes on unsustainable practices.
A leader in PET recycling
Ganesha Ecosphere boasts over 30 years of experience in the PET recycling industry. Founded in 1987, the company initially focused on yarn production. In 1994, it became one of the first companies in India to reprocess PET waste into recycled polyester staple fiber (RPSF) and recycled polyester spun yarns (RPSY). Today, the group operates six production facilities in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Telangana, as well as one in Nepal. In addition to bottle-grade rPET pellets and flakes, Ganesha Ecosphere manufactures rPET staple fiber for yarns, nonwovens, flame-retardant fabrics, and fiber fillings. The highest quality rPET products are produced by its subsidiary Ganesha Ecopet and marketed under the brand name “Go Rewise.” With more than 2,700 employees and exports to over 18 countries, Ganesha Ecosphere ranks among India’s largest rPET producers, recycling 9.4 billion PET bottles annually.
For further information, visit https://ganeshaecosphere.com/ and https://gorewise.com/.
