The Economic Times claimed that India is taking big steps to cut down on plastic waste by making big drink companies use recycled materials in their packaging.
Companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola will only be able to use PET bottles that contain at least 30% recovered plastic after April 1, 2025. That number will go up by 10% every year until it hits 60% by fiscal year 2028–29.
The new rule’s end goal is a circular economy that can last for a long time and use recovered plastic to make new bottles.
In the short run, this could mean a little higher prices for regular people because businesses may pass on some of the 30% cost increase. Long-term benefits, on the other hand, include less trash made of plastic in public places and rivers.
The strategy could also lead to new ideas in packaging, with companies looking into biodegradable or plant-based materials as alternatives.
But it won’t be easy to make the change. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India only lets five plants make recycled PET that is safe for food, and even when all five are working together, they can only meet 15% of the usual demand.
About 70% of beverage packaging in India is made of PET bottles right now because they’re easier to use than glass bottles and less expensive than cans.
Some businesses are thinking about going to court. An unknown executive told The Economic Times, “We may have to go to court and ask for an anticipatory stay if the deadline is not extended.” Before the busy summer season, the time is not good. We are putting money into increasing capacity, but it won’t happen for another two or three years.
Big beverage companies still have a long way to go to fix their environmental problems, but this policy is a step in the right direction and will help them be more responsible for their actions.