PET resin: Regulation
Recycled-content targets and tethered caps
What this tab covers How it is regulated and what could disrupt supply: hazard classification, rules in the EU, US and India, anti-dumping duties and other trade measures, and supply-risk notes.Hazards
| Classification | UN number | Key risks |
|---|---|---|
| not classified as hazardous | none | Low hazard. Antimony and acetaldehyde migration into drinks are regulated; microplastics from degraded bottles. |
Main rules
| Where | Rule | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| EU | Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019/904) | 25% recycled PET in PET beverage bottles from 2025, 30% in all plastic beverage bottles by 2030; separate collection targets of 77% (2025) and 90% (2029) (indicative); tethered caps from 2024. |
| EU | Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastics in food contact | Authorises decontamination processes for food-grade rPET (indicative). |
| EU | Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40 | 30% recycled content for contact-sensitive PET packaging by 2030 and deposit return systems for bottles (indicative). |
| US | State recycled-content laws (California: 25% by 2025, 50% by 2030) | Drives US rPET demand (Readon, Jan 2026). |
India
| Rule | Effect |
|---|---|
| Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, EPR Guidelines 2022 and PWM (Amendment) Rules 2026 | Recycled-content and recycling targets on producers, importers and brand owners; tradable EPR certificates on the CPCB portal; FY2025-26 shortfalls may be carried forward three years. |
| Single-use plastics ban (1 July 2022) | Bans identified items such as plastic cutlery, plates, cups, straws, ear-bud sticks and polystyrene (thermocol) decoration; carry bags thinner than 120 microns banned from Dec 2022 (indicative, MoEFCC notification 2021). |
| FSSAI authorisation of recycled PET for food contact (permitted since 2021-2022) | 17 rPET plants authorised with about 300,000 t/yr capacity (Procurement Resource, Mar 2026); where FSSAI restricts use, EPR recycled-content duties are waived. |
| EPR Category I (rigid) recycled-content schedule | 30% (2025-26), 40% (2026-27), 50% (2027-28), 60% (2028-29); shortfalls from FY26 may be carried forward three years (greensutra 2026; Drishti IAS Apr 2026). |
Trade measures
- No current Indian trade remedy on PET resin confirmed in sources reviewed
- India's PTA and MEG quality-control orders withdrawn on 12 Nov 2025 (BIS notification via ELP, Nov 2025)
- 2026 Hormuz disruption to Gulf MEG and PX
Supply risk
Resin supply is ample and Chinese overcapacity keeps it so. Feedstock risk sits in Gulf MEG and Asian PX. Antimony, the main catalyst, is concentrated in China (antimony tile), but use per tonne is tiny and titanium catalysts can replace it.