Balrampur chini mills to set up India’s first bio-plastic plant

New Delhi: Balrampur Chini Mills Limited decided to set up India’s first-ever industrial bio- plastic plant with an estimated investment of Rs. 2000 crores, aimed to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

The company in a statement said, “The new (Polylactic Acid) manufacturing venture PLA venture is well- aligned with the sustainability goals envisioned by Prime Minister of India, in order to combat climate change”.

It has decided to complete the project in a phased manner over a period of around 2.5 years. The state-of-art PLA factory will command a whopping capacity at “global” scale of 75’000 t/a.

Explaning about the new venture,Vivek Saraogi, CMD, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited said, “PLA offers dual benefits as a bio-based and biodegradable(compostable) material, serving as a sustainable substitute for conventional plastics across different applications”.

He furter added that this aligns with our commitment to environmentally conscious practices and enhances our business model, promoting a more sustainable and responsible approach to manufacturing.

With this project, Balrampur Chini aims to pioneer an industry-first approach in the country reducing carbon emissions by minimizing reliance on fossil fuels in plastic production, showcasing innovation and environmental consciousness” he said.

As the Executive Director of Balrampur Chini Mills Limited, Avantika Saraogi said, “We see the utilization of sugar as a raw material in PLA production as pivotal for a sustainable future. Through the PLA project, our goal is to not only drive financial growth but also redefine standards in India’s sustainable economic landscape.”

The efficient usage of sugar as a raw material, to produce Polylactic Acid (PLA) and bioplastics marks the onset of a significant shift from the current linear consumption manufacturing paradigm to the one, led by circular and regenerative principles.

Additionally, most of India’s current SUP (Single Use Plastic) consumption and its respective applications can be replaced by PLA and PLA compounds.