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Packaging rule · India · Recycled content

Recycled content in plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)

Recycled content rule covering plastic in India, set by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Applies since 31 March 2026.

By the SPI teamRule ID PR-IN-002Source consulted 13 October 2026Sourced, awaiting second check
Sourced facts

The rule

Recorded from the official source named below. Rates and dates are as the source states them on the date it was consulted.

Jurisdiction
India
Authority
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Rule type
Recycled content
Materials
Plastic
Status
In force Enacted
Rate or target
60 % recycled plastic (Category I, 2028-29 onwards)Category I: 30/40/50/60% for 2025-26 to 2028-29+; Category II: 10/10/20/20%; Category III: 5/5/10/10%. Same figures as G.S.R. 133(E) of 16 Feb 2022; the 2026 amendment substitutes the clauses, in force on publication.
Adopted or published
31 March 2026
Applies from
31 March 2026
From the source

“The brand owner shall ensure use of recycled plastic in plastic packaging category-wise”

Official source MoEFCC Gazette G.S.R. 237(E), hosted by Maharashtra Pollution Control BoardOfficial (government or regulator) · consulted 13 October 2026

Deadlines

Key dates

  1. Adopted or published 6 months ago

  2. Applies from 6 months ago

  3. Source consulted by the SPI team today

SPI analysis

What it means

SPI analysis Our reading of the official source above. Not legal advice; always rely on the official text.

SPI summary

Recycled plastic content obligations for producers, importers and brand owners were first set in Schedule II in 2022. G.S.R. 237(E) of 2026 restates the category-wise targets for 2025-26 to 2028-29 and adds exemptions where law bars recycled plastic, certificate purchase for importers and a three-year carry-forward of unmet 2025-26 food-contact targets.

In practice

From 2025-26, producers, importers and brand owners in India face rising minimum recycled-plastic shares by packaging category: Category I (rigid) 30% rising to 60% from 2028-29, Category II 10% to 20%, Category III 5% to 10% (counted on the plastic layers only). Converters supplying Indian brand owners will be asked for recycled content that meets IS 14534:2023 and, for food contact, FSSAI labelling. Importers cannot count recycled content already in imported material and instead buy certificates.

Who is in scope

  • Producers (share of plastic packaging manufactured), importers (share of plastic packaging imported) and brand owners (share of plastic packaging used), per paragraphs 7.2 to 7.4 of Schedule II
  • Category I, II and III plastic packaging
  • Recycled plastic packaging, which must conform to IS 14534:2023 and carry the prescribed recycled-content marking (Rule 11)

Who is not

  • Uses where recycled plastic is not permitted under a central law, rule or statutory body such as FSSAI, CDSCO or the Central Insecticide Board, or under a mandatory Indian standard, provided the basis is declared in the annual return
  • Non-plastic layers of Category III multilayer packaging

What to do and by when

  1. NowMap 2025-26 and 2026-27 volumes by category against the 30%, 10% and 5% (2025-26) and 40%, 10% and 5% (2026-27) shares.
  2. NowCheck which food-contact SKUs can carry forward a 2025-26 shortfall, which must be cleared at least one third per year from 2026-27.
  3. 30 June 2027Document any exemption claims with the relevant law or standard for the annual return on the CPCB portal.
  4. When CPCB issues its guidelinesReview audit and verification rules, due within six months of 31 March 2026, and the certificate exchange for importers.
  5. 1 April 2028Budget for Category I recycled content at 60% from 2028-29.

Related rules

  • PR-IN-001 EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II)
    Same Schedule II EPR framework and CPCB portal.
  • PR-IN-003 Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)
    Issued in the same G.S.R. 237(E) amendment, for brand-owner reuse.
  • PR-EU-004 PPWR: 2030 minimum recycled content in plastic packaging
    EU recycled-content minimums for plastic packaging from 2030.
  • PR-US-010 New Jersey Recycled Content Law (P.L.2021, c.391)
    New Jersey also sets stepped recycled-content shares by container type.

Where the record is unclear

  • Categories I to III are not defined in the 2026 notification itself; the definitions sit in the 2022 Schedule II text.
  • CPCB's audit guidelines and the certificate exchange for importers were not found published as of 13 October 2026.

Sources for this note

  1. MoEFCC Gazette G.S.R. 237(E), 31 March 2026, Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2026, hosted by Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Consulted 13 October 2026
  2. NGT: CPCB reply affidavit in OA 22 of 2022 (Southern Zone), 4 May 2022, annexing G.S.R. 133(E) of 16 February 2022 (EPR Guidelines, Schedule II) Consulted 13 October 2026

Note written by the SPI team on 13 October 2026.

Where it sits in the tracker

  • One of 4 packaging rules we track in India, of which 1 are recycled content rules.
  • In all, 6 recycled content rules are tracked across 3 jurisdictions. Compare them below

Company profiles that map to this rule

Companies whose SPI profile lists this rule in its regulatory exposure, based on where they report selling. Not company-reported.

Audit trail

Change history

Sourced: an SPI analyst recorded the facts above from the official source. A second SPI team member has not re-checked it yet. Every change is logged here.

  1. Changed: title, SPI summary, rate note

  2. Verified by a second SPI team member

  3. Changed: unit

  4. Added to the tracker

Spotted an error? Write to sales@strategicpackaginginsights.com quoting PR-IN-002 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Recycled content rules elsewhere

The same type of rule for the same materials in other jurisdictions, by the date it applies.

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
California minimum recycled content for plastic beverage containers (AB 793)PR-US-009California, United StatesRecycled contentPlasticIn force1 January 2022
New Jersey Recycled Content Law (P.L.2021, c.391)PR-US-010New Jersey, United StatesRecycled contentPlastic, Paper and board, GlassIn force18 January 2024
SUP Directive: recycled content in plastic beverage bottlesPR-EU-016European UnionRecycled contentPlasticIn force1 January 2025
PPWR: 2030 minimum recycled content in plastic packagingPR-EU-004European UnionRecycled contentPlasticAdopted, not yet applying1 January 2030
PPWR: 2040 minimum recycled content in plastic packagingPR-EU-005European UnionRecycled contentPlasticAdopted, not yet applying1 January 2040

Every recycled content rule in the tracker

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Questions people bring
  1. Q1

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    We map each market's EPR, tax, ban, recycled-content, labelling and deposit rules against your materials and formats, and show which are in force, adopted or only proposed.

  2. Q2

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    We apply published fee tables and tax rates to your tonnages and recycled content, and show the result as scenarios with every rate sourced.

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