The food-grade rPET for the new bottles is produced by Srichakra Polyplast (India) Pvt Ltd on a Starlinger PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line.
Coca-Cola India uses the new rPET bottle for its packaged drinking water brand Kinley, which is currently sold in one-litre bottles. The launch of the rPET bottle became possible after the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) approved the use of recycled PET in food packaging, following a thorough review of the material regarding food safety and compliance with its guidelines.
The Starlinger Recostar PET 165 iV+ PET bottle-to-bottle recycling line at Srichakra’s production facility in Hyderabad, Telangana State, has taken up production in 2021 and was the first bottle-to-bottle recycling line Starlinger installed in India. It features technology for processing post-consumer PET bottles and has positive scientific opinions from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and approvals from FSSAI. The produced rPET pellets are suitable for food-contact and can be used for food and beverage packaging like bottles for water and carbonated soft drinks, food trays, etc. The use of recycled plastics helps to reduce the need for virgin plastics significantly and avoids plastic waste going to landfills or polluting the environment.
Srichakra has already ordered another two Starlinger PET bottle-to-bottle recycling lines which will be delivered beginning of 2024.