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Packaging rule · India · Reuse target

Reuse targets for rigid plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)

Reuse target 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-003Source 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
Reuse target
Materials
Plastic
Status
In force Enacted
Rate or target
85 % reuse (drinking-water rigid packaging >=4.9 L/kg, 2028-29 onwards)0.9-4.9 L/kg: 10/15/20/25%; >=4.9 L/kg drinking water: 70/75/80/85%; >=4.9 L/kg other: 10/10/15/15% (2025-26 to 2028-29+). The 2022 Schedule II (G.S.R. 133(E)) set 10-25% and 70-85% without the drinking-water split.
Adopted or published
31 March 2026
Applies from
31 March 2026
From the source

“shall have minimum obligation to reuse such packaging as per the table given below”

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

Brand owners must reuse a minimum share of Category I rigid plastic packaging, an obligation first set in Schedule II in 2022. The 2026 amendment keeps 70% to 85% for drinking-water containers of 4.9 litres or more and 10% to 25% for 0.9 to 4.9 litre packs, adds a 10% to 15% target for other large packs and allows carry-forward.

In practice

Brand owners in India that use Category I rigid plastic packaging have yearly minimum reuse shares. Containers of 4.9 litres or kilograms and above used for drinking water face the steepest path, 70% in 2025-26 rising to 85% from 2028-29; other large rigid packs move from 10% to 15%, and packs from 0.9 to under 4.9 litres or kilograms from 10% to 25%. Bottled-water brands and suppliers of returnable jars are the most exposed; container makers may see demand shift toward refillable formats.

Who is in scope

  • Brand owners using Category I rigid plastic packaging (Schedule II paragraph 7.4(b))
  • Rigid packs of 0.9 to under 4.9 litres or kg; packs of 4.9 litres or kg and above, split into drinking water and other products

Who is not

  • Rigid packaging whose reuse is not permitted under a law, regulation, rule or mandatory standard, where the brand owner submits the relevant notification or order in its annual return
  • Producers and importers: the reuse obligation is placed on brand owners only
  • Rigid packs below 0.9 litres or kg are not listed in the reuse table

What to do and by when

  1. NowMap rigid SKUs into the three size and use bands and calculate 2025-26 reuse performance.
  2. NowCheck whether any 2025-26 shortfall needs to be carried forward, with at least one third cleared each year from 2026-27.
  3. 30 June 2027Prepare rigid packaging sales, virgin and recycled content figures for reporting on the CPCB portal.
  4. 1 April 2028Plan return logistics and container durability for the 85% drinking-water target from 2028-29.

Related rules

  • PR-IN-002 Recycled content in plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II, revised 2026)
    Same G.S.R. 237(E) amendment, recycled content obligations.
  • PR-IN-001 EPR Guidelines for plastic packaging (PWM Rules Schedule II)
    Reuse is reported within the Schedule II EPR framework.
  • PR-EU-006 PPWR: 2030 reuse targets for transport and grouped packaging
    EU 2030 reuse targets for transport, sales and grouped packaging.
  • PR-ES-002 Spain Royal Decree 1055/2022: packaging EPR and reuse targets
    Spain's national reuse targets for commercial and industrial packaging.

Where the record is unclear

  • How reuse share is measured and verified is not set out in the notification; CPCB audit guidelines were due within six months of 31 March 2026.
  • Interaction with FSSAI rules for food-contact reuse is referenced but not detailed in the text consulted.

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 reuse target rules.
  • In all, 3 reuse target 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-003 and the source. Corrections are logged in this history.

Other jurisdictions

Reuse target rules elsewhere

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

RuleWhereTypeMaterialsStatusApplies from
Spain Royal Decree 1055/2022: packaging EPR and reuse targetsPR-ES-002SpainReuse targetAll packagingIn force29 December 2022
PPWR: 2030 reuse targets for transport and grouped packagingPR-EU-006European UnionReuse targetAll packagingAdopted, not yet applying1 January 2030

Every reuse target rule in the tracker

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