Recycled VCI packaging meets India mandate
An international metal components manufacturer adopts recycled-content VCI film from Cortec to comply with India’s 2027 recycled content requirement.
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An international manufacturer of metal components operating global supply chains faced increasing regulatory pressure linked to circular economy policies. One key driver was India’s requirement for 20% recycled content in flexible plastic packaging by 2027, applicable to imported goods as well as domestic production.
The company relies on anticorrosion packaging to protect metal parts during long-distance transport and storage. Any change in packaging materials therefore had to maintain corrosion protection performance while also enabling documented compliance with recycled content regulations.
Objectives for improvement
The manufacturer sought to align its packaging strategy with emerging recycled content mandates without compromising product quality or logistics reliability. Specific objectives included:
- Meeting the 20% recycled content threshold for shipments to India
- Maintaining consistent corrosion protection for sensitive metal components
- Ensuring traceability of recycled material content for regulatory reporting
- Reducing overall plastic waste through a structured recycling approach
Selection of a recycled-content VCI solution
To address these requirements, the company selected VpCI-126 VCI film with recycled content supplied by Cortec Corporation. The solution was chosen because it combines vapor corrosion inhibitor technology with a verified proportion of post-consumer recycled (PCR) material.
Cortec offers VCI films with a minimum of 10% recycled content and custom formulations of up to 30% PCR. This allowed the manufacturer to standardize on a 20% recycled content specification across all VCI films and bags used for shipments to India, directly matching regulatory requirements.
Deployment and supplier support
Implementation focused on replacing conventional VCI films with recycled-content alternatives while preserving existing packaging processes. Cortec supported the transition by providing documentation on recycled content levels and ensuring film quality through controlled resin sourcing and testing.
In parallel, the company gained access to Cortec’s recycling framework, which allows clean and dry used VCI films to be returned through qualified recycling partners. Returned material is tested and reintroduced into the recycled content stream, supporting extended producer responsibility objectives.
Results and operational benefits
By adopting VpCI-126 film with 20% PCR, the manufacturer achieved compliance with India’s recycled content mandate ahead of the 2027 deadline. The solution preserved corrosion protection performance while enabling transparent reporting of recycled material usage.
Participation in the recycling program also created a structured pathway for reducing plastic waste from packaging operations. Similar programs within the Cortec network have demonstrated large-scale material recovery, including the reclamation of tens of thousands of kilograms of plastic from industrial users, illustrating the potential impact of closed-loop packaging systems.
Supporting a circular economy strategy
The case highlights how regulatory-driven change can be integrated into existing industrial packaging systems when technical performance and recycling infrastructure are addressed together. By combining recycled-content materials with take-back and reprocessing options, Cortec and its European affiliate EcoCortec provide manufacturers with a practical route toward circular economy compliance in global markets.
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