Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh formally launched the commercial use of bio-based biodegradable plastic based on Polylactic Acid (PLA), marking India's transition towards next-generation sustainable manufacturing. The initiative is being implemented by Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) under the government's BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) framework, combining biotechnology with sustainable manufacturing and commercial translation.
A ₹75 crore grant from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), is supporting the establishment of a 100 TPA pilot-scale R&D facility for PLA and co-polymers. The facility will be located at BCML's integrated manufacturing complex at Kumbhi, Uttar Pradesh, and will focus on developing specialized PLA grades and advanced PLA co-polymers for high-value applications. The pilot facility aims to generate techno-economic data, process know-how, support product development and customer validation, facilitate technology indigenization, and enable seamless scale-up towards commercial production.
Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted that India's bioeconomy has grown from approximately US$10 billion in 2014 to nearly US$195 billion, reflecting rapid expansion of biotechnology-led economic activity. The minister emphasized the 'waste to wealth' approach, stating that India's diverse biomass resources can be converted into valuable products through region-specific biotechnology capabilities. He noted that different regions generate different kinds of biomass and waste, requiring different technologies for conversion into useful products.
The initiative represents a significant diversification of India's bio-based manufacturing landscape, creating a pathway from agricultural resources (particularly sugarcane) to sustainable materials. BCML's commercial PLA venture involves converting renewable sugar-based feedstock into PLA and bioplastics. The project is expected to strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions while creating opportunities for sustainable development, employment, and regional growth.
Dr. Rajesh Sudhir Gokhale, Secretary of DBT, stated that the initiative takes biotechnology beyond laboratory science toward an integrated manufacturing ecosystem involving validated processes, pilot facilities, skilling, and commercial-scale production. The project can create a new value chain beyond ethanol by converting biological resources into lactic acid and high-value biopolymers.
The BioE3-backed initiative is expected to accelerate the development and commercialization of advanced bio-based materials, strengthen India's indigenous biomanufacturing capabilities, and support the emergence of a sustainable, employment-generating, and globally competitive bioeconomy.