From waste to world-class sustainability: Gujarat and ELITe join hands to launch India’s pioneering Infinite Loop™ polyester recycling ecosystem at Dahej. NE photo
- Ester Industries-Loop Industries JV ELITe signs landmark MoU with Gujarat Government for transformative recycling project in Dahej
- India’s first large-scale Infinite Loop™ chemical recycling facility to convert polyester waste into virgin-quality PET materials
- Mega project to generate nearly 500 jobs and produce 70,000 MTPA recycled PET annually with commercial rollout targeted by 2028
- Nike joins as anchor customer under multi-year offtake agreement, strengthening India’s circular textile economy ambitions
- Facility projected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 81%, saving over 4.18 lakh tonnes of CO₂ annually
- Vibrant Gujarat initiative reinforces state’s emergence as India’s premier destination for next-generation sustainable manufacturing investments
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
SURAT, MAY 7
In a landmark boost to India’s circular economy ambitions, Ester Industries Limited’s joint venture Ester Loop Infinite Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (ELITe) has signed a ₹1,600 crore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Gujarat to establish India’s first large-scale chemical recycling facility for polyester waste.
The greenfield project, to be developed in the PCPIR Dahej region of Bharuch district, is expected to redefine India’s sustainable manufacturing landscape by converting post-consumer and post-industrial polyester waste into virgin-quality PET materials suitable for global textile and packaging applications.
The MoU was signed at Auro University, Surat, under the Chemicals, Petrochemicals & GIDC Large Projects category during the Vibrant Gujarat regional conferences, underscoring Gujarat’s growing stature as a hub for futuristic industrial investments.
The upcoming facility will deploy Loop Industries’ proprietary Infinite Loop™ technology and is designed to produce nearly 70,000 tonnes of recycled PET resin annually, alongside approximately 70,000 tonnes of recycled dimethyl terephthalate (rDMT) and 23,000 tonnes of recycled monoethylene glycol (rMEG).
Commercial operations are targeted to commence by 2028, while the project is expected to create around 500 direct employment opportunities in the region.
The initiative marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to tackle mounting polyester and textile waste, much of which currently ends up in landfills despite the country being among the world’s largest producers and consumers of polyester.
Strengthening the project’s global relevance, Nike Inc. has already been confirmed as the anchor customer under a long-term offtake agreement for Twist™, a sustainable material aimed at helping global apparel brands achieve traceable circularity goals.
Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the facility has been completed by Tata Consulting Engineers, while detailed engineering responsibilities have been awarded to Toyo Engineering India Pvt. Ltd., a globally reputed EPC company with extensive expertise in large industrial projects.
The Gujarat government, through the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), has assured time-bound facilitation of approvals, permissions and regulatory clearances for the project.
The facility is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 81 per cent, translating into annual savings of approximately 4,18,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide compared to conventional virgin PET production methods.
Commenting on the development, Ayush Vardhan Singhania, Whole-Time Director, Ester Industries Limited, said: “This MoU with the Government of Gujarat is a defining milestone for ELITe and for India’s place in the global circular economy. With land secured, engineering underway, and Nike confirmed as our anchor customer, the Bharuch facility stands on an exceptionally strong foundation. Gujarat’s progressive investment framework has given us the confidence to commit ₹1,600 crore to this vision, and we are on course for commercial commencement in 2028.”
Vaibhav Jha, Chief Executive Officer, Ester Industries Limited, added: “India is one of the world’s largest producers and consumers of polyester, yet almost none of its post-consumer textile and packaging waste is recycled and most of it ends up in landfills. The Bharuch plant will directly address that gap — converting what is today a disposal burden into a high-value, endlessly circular material that global brands are actively seeking. This investment affirms our commitment to sustainability and to making India a global leader in the space.”
The MoU was formally signed by B K Joshi (GAS), Executive Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), representing the Government of Gujarat, and Ayush Vardhan Singhania, Director, Ester Loop Infinite Technologies Pvt. Ltd., on behalf of ELITe.
