Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022 (PWM Rules) mandate companies to start reusing the container packaging used. The mandate comes into effect from 2025.
What is REUSE as per PWM Rules, 2022?
It means using an object or resource material again for either the same purpose or another purpose without changing the object’s structure.
Target for reuse is divided into two categories
Category 1 – containers more than 0.9 litre but less than 4.9 litres
Category 2 – containers more than 4.9 litres
If you are a brand that uses plastic containers between 0.9 litre to 4.9 litre then you should start planning the reuse of containers as follows
|
Year
|
Reuse Target
|
|---|---|
|
2025-26
|
10%
|
|
2026-27
|
15%
|
|
2027-28
|
20%
|
|
2028-29 onwards
|
25%
|
* as a percentage of Category I rigid plastic packaging in products sold annually
Example: Brand A uses a one-litre plastic container weighing 100 gms each. The brand A sold 1,00,000 such containers in one year. The total weight of those containers is 10,000 kg. In 2025 Brand A will have to REUSE 10% i.e. 10,000 containers or 1,000 kg equivalent of plastic containers
If you are a brand that uses plastic containers between 0.9 litre to 4.9 litre then you should start planning the reuse of containers as follows
|
Year
|
Reuse Target
|
|---|---|
|
2025-26
|
70%
|
|
2026-27
|
75%
|
|
2027-28
|
80%
|
|
2028-29 onwards
|
85%
|
Example: Asian Paints (AP), a leading paint manufacturer, uses a twenty-litre plastic container weighing 1 kg each. AP sold 1,00,000 such containers in one year. The total weight of those containers is 1,00,000 kg or 100 tonnes. In 2025 AP will have to REUSE 70% i.e. 70,000 containers or 70,000 kg equivalent of plastic containers.
Things to remember
1. Use of recycled plastic content and reuse are different The use of recycled plastic content in plastic packaging is another obligation for brands. The recycled content obligation is as per PWM Rule 7.4 (e) and the reuse obligation is as per 7.4 (b)
2. Food contact application food contact applications shall be subject to the regulation of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).