Starlinger, a leading supplier of machinery for woven plastic packaging production, plastics recycling, and refinement, focused on sustainability at PlastIndia 2026 Delhi.
Founded in Austria nearly 190 years ago, Starlinger has built a global reputation as a machinery manufacturer for plastics packaging, industrial packaging, and recycling. The company exports its technology worldwide and continues to adapt its offerings to meet changing regulatory and environmental demands.
“We manufacture machines for plastics packaging, industrial packaging, as well as plastics recycling, and we have a global presence,” Saria Jenamani, marketing manager, Starlinger, told Packaging South Asia.
Keeping sustainability in focus, a key highlight was its AD*Star industrial packaging solution—block bottom bags known for durability and efficiency.
According to Jenamani, the spotlight this year, however, was on a new development, a bag incorporating 40% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. “This is something very new in the market,” Mandal noted, emphasizing the company’s push toward integrating recycled content without compromising performance. The product, launched at K 2025 last October, has already found early adopters, reflecting growing market acceptance.
In the consumer packaging segment, Starlinger presented its PP*Star bag—a mono-material solution designed for easier recyclability. By using a single type of material, these bags extend product life cycles and simplify recycling processes, aligning with global circular economy goals.
Focus on recycling
Starlinger’s recycling division continues to play a crucial role in its portfolio. The company is engaged in post-consumer recycling and PET-to-PET processes, with a notable presence in India. “We already have a lot of customers in PET-to-PET recycling in India,” Jenamani said.
Another key offering, known as ViscoSheet, is from its Viscotec division, which focuses on recycled sheet materials. The company has specifically tailored the product, approved for food-grade applications, for the Indian market. It highlights the increasing demand for safe, recycled materials in packaging, particularly in the food and beverage sectors.
A significant development is the establishment of its manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad. Officially inaugurated in February 2026, the plant focuses on producing tape extrusion lines. Notably, all recycling machinery continues to be supplied from Austria, ensuring that advanced European technology remains central to Starlinger’s recycling solutions.
Discussing market trends, Jenamani pointed out that regulatory pressures are driving the adoption of recycled materials. “There are a lot of rules and regulations. If you want to export your material to Europe, you have to follow these,” she said. While there was a brief period of uncertainty due to policy shifts in India, the market is regaining momentum.
She observed strong engagement at the exhibition with both existing and potential customers showing interest in sustainable technologies. “The quality of visitors was very good,” she remarked, adding that several deals were in advanced stages of negotiation.
According to her, globally, the outlook is equally promising. Sustainability has become a defining theme across the plastics industry, and despite fluctuations in raw material prices, the push towards recycled content remains strong. “People know they have to use recycled material because they have to fulfil regulations,” Jenamani stated.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, Starlinger aims to push the boundaries of sustainability even further. The company envisions increasing the recycled content in its packaging solutions from the current 40% to potentially more in the coming years.
She highlighted the importance of energy efficiency in machinery design, noting that Starlinger’s systems are engineered to minimize raw material usage and energy consumption—another critical aspect of sustainable manufacturing.
Additionally, she said the EU-India trade developments are expected to ease market access for European manufacturers, further strengthening Starlinger’s growth prospects in India.
