Plastic packaging EPR
Plastic EPR calculator for Indian D2C brands.
Estimate your annual obligation under PWM Rules 2022 in 30 seconds. Cat I (rigid) to Cat IV (compostable), per-FY targets, no signup.
Source: Plastic Waste Management Rules 2022 · MoEFCC, Schedule II — recycling targets per category
Sub-categories the calculator covers
Map your products into the right buckets — the recycling target and certificate rate differ per sub-category.
Cat I — Rigid
Bottles, jars, containers, caps, closures.
Cat II — Flexible / single-layer
Carry bags, pouches, sachets, single-layer films.
Cat III — Multi-layered (MLP)
Laminates with mixed materials.
Cat IV — Compostable
IS 17088 certified compostable plastics.
Who needs to comply
D2C brands using plastic packaging
If you sell goods in plastic packaging in India — pouches, bottles, MLP wrappers, secondary cartons — you are a brand owner under PWM Rules 2022. There is no SME exemption that scales meaningfully past pilot-batch volumes.
Importers of packaged goods or packaging
If you import packaged goods OR empty packaging material, you are liable as an importer for the plastic placed on the Indian market. Customs cross-references your BoEs at audit.
Manufacturers of plastic packaging
If you manufacture plastic packaging in India for sale to brands, you are a producer under PWM. Your brand-owner customers also have parallel obligations; the framework is layered, not exclusive.
The annual compliance flow
- 01
Map your annual weights
Pull packaging-spend data for the last 12 months. Group by Cat I–IV. Multiply per-unit grammage × units sold to get kilograms per category.
- 02
Apply the recycling target
Use the [calculator](/) — it pulls live PWM 2022 Schedule II targets per FY. The default working assumption is 70%, but the gazette ramps targets year over year.
- 03
Estimate certificate cost
Multiply the recycling-target weight by the EPR certificate market rate (Cat I/II: ₹15–35/kg; Cat III: ₹35–70/kg). The calculator surfaces both numbers.
- 04
Procure certificates
Buy from CPCB-registered recyclers — verify registration, authorised capacity, and category match before paying. See the certificate-procurement guide for the verification checklist.
- 05
File quarterly + annual returns
Quarterly Form 4 within 30 days of each quarter close. Annual Form 3 by 30 April of the following FY. EPRHQ Pro emails you 14 days before each deadline.
Free calculator
Get your liability in 30 seconds.
No signup. The calculator is on the home page — pick this category, enter your annual weight, get a per-sub-category cost breakdown.
FAQs
- How do I know which category my packaging falls into?
- Cat I is anything rigid that holds its shape — bottles, jars, caps. Cat II is flexible single-layer — pouches, films, mailers. Cat III is multi-layered laminates (chip packets, MLP). Cat IV is IS 17088 compostable. If you're unsure, default to the more conservative (higher-target) category.
- Is the calculator's number filing-ready?
- It's a directional estimate. The percentages reflect the gazette in force for the selected FY, but final filing values may vary based on your packaging records and certificate procurement. Use the calculator as a budgeting tool; reconcile with your records before filing.
- What's the difference between this and the multi-category tab?
- This page is dedicated to plastic. The multi-category tab on the home calculator runs plastic + e-waste + battery together — useful for electronics importers and FMCG brands with overlapping obligations.
- Are bubble wrap and air pillows in scope?
- Yes. They are Cat II flexible plastic. They are also commonly under-reported, which surfaces at audit. Include them.