- At the event, the whole plastics recycling and PU and foam community investigated sustainable developments in plastics recycling and PU foam.
- With an emphasis on industry advancements, the conferences’ discussions focused on sustainability in the recycling of plastics, foam, and polyurethane.
- India’s polyurethane foam market is expected to expand at a 6.30% CAGR, while the country’s plastics recycling industry is expected to rise at a robust 9.86% CAGR, propelling future innovation.
Today, the Plastics Recycling Show India (PRSI) and the UTECH India Sustainable Polyurethane & Foam Expo (UTECH ISPUF) made their debuts at Hall 4 of the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. These co-located events, which are organized by Media Fusion and Crain Communications, worldwide trade-show organizers, are centered on promoting sustainability in the recycling of polyurethane, foam, and plastics. The events are intended to spur innovation and set new standards for environmentally friendly practices in various sectors, since the plastics recycling market in India is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.86% from 9.9 million tons in 2023 to 23.7 million tons by 2032. Furthermore, the polyurethane foam market in India, which was estimated to be worth USD 3.74 billion in 2023, is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.30% from 2024 to 2032, reaching USD 6.76 billion.
With notable dignitaries attending, the event’s inauguration was a lavish affair. Architects, Engineers & Surveyors Association Chairman Mr. Mahesh Bangad; Mr. Anuraag Purie, Owner, AS Enterprises; Mr. Jinen Jain, Managing Director, Prakash Textiles Mills; Mr. Prashant Jain, Director-Marketing, Libra Mattress; Mr. Hufeza Samplewala, President, Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Traders; Mr. Jaiprakash Bhatia, Chairman, Builder’s Association of India; and Mr. Sanjay Gupta, President, Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association.
In addition to other well-known individuals dedicated to sustainability and innovation in recycling and packaging, the plastics recycling show featured notable dignitaries such as Mr. Ton Emans, President, Plastic Recyclers Europe; Mr. Shailendra Singh, Director General, Association of PET Recyclers – Bharat; Ms. Garima Mishra, Chief Advisor – South East Asia, Alliance to End Plastic Waste; Mr. Prabhakar Milavarapu, CMO, Sri Chakra; Mr. Ankit Jain, Director, Ribotl; and Mr. Suresh Varadarajan, Managing Director, SI Group India Pvt Ltd.
The event also includes a Sleep Expo India Pavilion, which is the premier mattress manufacturing trade fair in the Middle East and focuses on mattress recycling technologies including yarn, textiles, and machinery. The pavilion, which is sponsored by Duroflex Pvt. Ltd. as the Mattress & Cushioning Partner, provides insightful information about waste management innovations, circular economy practices, and sustainable solutions that are essential to the future of the industry.
“With an amazing yearly recycling capacity of 5 lakh tonnes, India’s PET recycling industry, represented by the All India Plastic Recycling Association (APR), stands as the world’s largest capacity recycler,” stated Mr. Bhadresh Dodhia, Director, Association of PET Recyclers (BHARAT). Encouraged by progressive government initiatives, such as the Plastic Waste Management Rules’ requirement that plastic packaging contain 30% recycled content by 2025, the industry has drawn ₹10,000 crores in investments over the past three years.
Over the past ten years, India, which is well-known throughout the world for its recycling effectiveness, has managed to recycle 95% of its PET bottle waste. But the industry is moving away from downcycling and toward a circular economy model; 100% recycled bottles are now made using food-grade, authorized ARPET granules. India is poised to dominate the global recycling market and make a substantial contribution to a sustainable future with the help of 50 lakh rag pickers, who are the industry’s backbone, and state-of-the-art equipment.
“We at Recaz Chemicals are dedicated to promoting innovation in the polyurethane sector,” stated Mohammad Z. Altaf, Country Head. With more than 30 years of experience, we are pleased to have a 40% market share and a solid presence in India. Our R&D facility in Hyderabad is committed to creating innovative solutions, such as environmentally friendly and sustainable goods. Our objective is to make our products “Made in India” as we grow our business, in line with the nation’s aspirations for independence. We are enthusiastic about the future and want to support the expansion of the polyurethane sector in India.”
“The furniture industry in India, valued at $25-26 billion, is experiencing remarkable growth, with projections indicating it will nearly double to over $50 billion by 2030, driven by a consistent CAGR of 6-6.5%,” stated Mr. Hufeza Samplewala, President, Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Traders. With the support of government programs like the creation of furniture centers under the Make in India campaign, this industry is gaining tremendous traction. These hubs seek to encourage indigenous industry and lessen reliance on imports, especially from nations like China.
The expansion of Indian manufacturers’ presence in export markets, such as the United States and Africa, is a noteworthy change. The display focuses on PU foam, a vital component of seating systems that is being made domestically to lessen dependency on imports. Furthermore, developments in designed and WPC boards—recycled, environmentally acceptable substitutes—are becoming essential parts of furniture production, demonstrating the growing popularity of sustainable techniques. In an effort to raise quality standards and lower imports, the Bureau of Indian Standards is implementing comprehensive furniture standards across categories as part of ongoing industry standardization efforts. To fully realize the potential of the industry, it is imperative to address issues like the high 18% GST rate and increase MSME contributions.
“In India’s construction and design industries, polyurethane (PU) is a versatile yet underutilized material,” stated Mr. Mahesh Bangad, Chairman of the Architects, Engineers & Surveyors Association. Only 5–7% of people are currently aware of its uses, which means that a startling 93% growth potential is still unrealized. With its durability, thermal insulation qualities, and versatility in goods ranging from stiff building materials to flexible furniture solutions, PU has completely transformed industries throughout the world. But issues including flammability, application costs, and a lack of innovation have prevented it from being widely used in India. PU can play a significant role in reaching net-zero targets and revolutionizing industries like interior design, construction, and packaging if more focus is placed on innovation, recyclability, and integration into sustainable processes.
According to Mr. Sanjay Gupta, President of the Footwear Components Manufacturers Association, “The Indian footwear market is expected to reach $26 billion by 2030, from its present valuation of $18 billion. India’s leather industry is currently valued at $30 billion, with the goal of reaching $50 billion. At the moment, footwear is sold for $12 billion domestically and exported for $6 billion. Compared to the domestic market, the overseas market has not grown as much. The import of raw materials, such as leather and synthetic materials, and competition from lower-priced imports, especially from China, are issues facing the sector. Nonetheless, the government actively supports the sector through programs including funding machinery purchases and taking part in trade shows.
“The polyurethane industry is huge, with different segments like foam, coatings, sealants, adhesives, elastomers, artificial leather, and binders all experiencing significant growth,” stated Mr. Jayant Khadilkar, Managing Director, Jay Elastomers Pvt. Ltd. This increase is being driven by the need for specific polyurethane materials and the growing number of steel mills. The Indian market is changing because consumers now value quality over low prices, making it more viable. Government assistance in changing the duty structure and providing tax breaks for domestically produced goods would be advantageous in order to promote more expansion and keep the industry competitive.
“Waste pickers are the backbone of the Indian waste management sector, yet they remain the most marginalized of the urban poor,” stated Mr. Shekhar Prabhakar, Co-Founder & CEO, Hasiru Dala Innovations. There are almost 4.62 lakh waste pickers in Karnataka alone, who deal with erratic pay and subpar living circumstances. They are frequently disregarded in spite of their vital function in recycling. Hasiru Dala Innovations gives garbage pickers access to clean waste, markets, and business prospects through inclusive circularity. Since its founding in 2015, the organization has helped over 1,000 waste pickers earn extra money, empowered 27 waste pickers as businesses, and diverted over 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste from landfills.
“The private sector and startups are driving innovation in sustainability by adopting circular economy models that minimize waste and reduce reliance on virgin materials,” stated Mr. Taher Patrawala, Managing Director, Media Fusion. With an increasing focus on environmentally friendly materials and energy-efficient manufacturing techniques, sustainability is still at the forefront. These initiatives, along with regulations that support them, are revolutionizing the sector. The combined platforms of PRS and UTECH demonstrate India’s enormous recycling potential. Recycling is expected to develop exponentially in the future as innovation and teamwork pick up speed, promoting sustainable practices and opening up new business prospects for the sector.
“Recycling has emerged as a global focal point for sustainable development, with India positioned uniquely due to its strong commitment to advancing circular economy practices,” stated Mr. Matthew Barber, Global Events Director, Crain Communications. According to reports, India’s current plastic recycling rate is above 60%, which is much higher than the 9% global average and even higher than that of numerous industrialized countries. Co-located events such as PRS and UTECH highlight India’s increasing role in promoting innovation worldwide. These gatherings provide an essential forum for developing collaborations, connecting regional efforts with global know-how, and opening the door for revolutionary developments in recycling, material science, and environmentally friendly production.
Leading companies exhibiting their most recent sustainable solutions included Chemie Products Private Limited, AS Enterprises, Duroflex Pvt. Ltd., Speb Adhesives, Jay Elastomers Pvt. Ltd., Meenakshi Polymers Pvt. Ltd., Dalmia Polypro, Dodhia Plastics, Plastics for Change, Leevams Inc., Starlinger & Co GmbH, NEPRA Resource Management, Srichakra Polyplast, and Ribotl.
Innovative developments in the polyurethane and plastics recycling sectors were the subject of an engaging set of talks and presentations on Day 1. Global market trends with an emphasis on Asia and sustainability, the viability of PU recycling, eco-friendly polyurethane solutions, sustainable production in India, and advancements in polyurethane polyol systems were all covered in the polyurethane sessions. In addition to a fireside discussion highlighting energy efficiency and sustainability in cold storage, specific applications were investigated, such as PU in construction and bio polyols for stiff applications.
Panels on the plastic recycling market were held concurrently on PRSI Day 1, discussing the state of the industry, laws, obstacles, and steps required to create a framework for circular plastics. A closer examination of India’s infrastructure for collection and sorting was also discussed, with chances for development and deficiencies noted.
There will be more stimulating conversations and creative thoughts on Day 2 at UTECH ISPUF and PRSI. The UTECH workshops will focus on process development and simulation-based optimization as they advance sustainability in PU foam manufacturing. Other subjects include investigating methods to improve the recyclable nature of polyurethane flexible foam in the Indian subcontinent region and converting used PU foam into components that may be used to decontaminate wastewater.
A panel discussion on overcoming obstacles to circularity and assessing whether EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) is causing significant changes in plastics packaging will be featured on PRSI Day 2. Additional workshops will include trading difficulties in a time of changing legal frameworks as well as financial and investment strategies, addressing problems and encouraging cooperation to realize the full potential of recycling plastics.
Industry groups like the Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors Association, the Packaging Industry Association of India, the Indian Plastics Institute, the Builder’s Association of India, and the Association of PET Recyclers Bharat have all provided substantial support for the events.
