The government is set to strengthen its green manufacturing ecosystem with the development of its first large-scale biopolymer facility at the Kumbhi sugar unit of Balrampur Chini Mills Limited in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. The facility is expected to become operational by October 2026. The company is developing the fully integrated greenfield project with an investment of around Rs. 3,080 crore. The facility will convert locally sourced sugarcane into Polylactic Acid (PLA), a biodegradable and bio-based alternative to conventional plastics. Operating under the Balrampur Bioyug brand, the project aims to support India’s transition towards sustainable materials and reduce dependence on conventional petroleum-based plastics.
80,000-Ton Annual PLA Production Capacity
The upcoming plant will have an annual production capacity of 80,000 tonnes of PLA, creating a major industrial-scale platform for biodegradable plastic manufacturing in India. By using sugarcane as a renewable agricultural feedstock, the facility will integrate agricultural processing with advanced biopolymer production. As a result, the project is expected to create new opportunities for value addition across the agriculture and manufacturing value chains. The large-scale production of PLA could support the wider adoption of biodegradable plastics across packaging and other industrial applications.
Sustainable Manufacturing with Renewable Energy
The project has been designed with a strong focus on sustainable manufacturing. It will incorporate renewable energy systems and a zero liquid discharge mechanism to minimise its environmental footprint. The facility will support the development of cleaner manufacturing processes while promoting the use of renewable resources. The project also aligns with broader efforts to build a circular and bio-based economy in India.
Strengthening Uttar Pradesh’s Bio-Economy
The biopolymer facility is located within Balrampur Chini Mills’ existing Kumbhi sugar mill premises in Gola Gokarannath, Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone for the project was laid by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh on February 22, 2025. Once operational, the project is expected to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s position in India’s emerging bio-economy and green technology landscape. In addition, it could encourage further investments in bio-based materials and sustainable manufacturing technologies.
As reported by ibef.org, the Balrampur Bioyug biopolymer project represents a significant step towards expanding India’s domestic biopolymer manufacturing capabilities. By combining locally available sugarcane resources with large-scale PLA production, the facility aims to support sustainable industrial growth, strengthen the bio-based materials ecosystem and accelerate the shift towards eco-friendly alternatives to conventional plastics.
