India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has proposed stricter Eco-Mark rules for paper industry products, publishing draft norms in the Official Gazette on June 8, 2026 that focus on fibre sourcing, chemical use and mill-level compliance. The draft is open for public comment for 60 days before the government finalises it.
The draft amends the Eco-mark Rules, 2024, and sets separate eligibility thresholds by raw material: agro-residue-based paper must contain at least 60% pulp from materials such as agro residues, cotton linters and cotton rags; wood-based paper must use at least 70% pulp from bamboo, hardwood, softwood or reed sourced domestically and certified under the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme; and recycled paper must contain at least 80% wastepaper or recovered paper.
Why Is MoEF&CC Tightening Eco-Mark Rules for Paper Now?
The draft introduces mandatory Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) or Total Chlorine Free (TCF) bleaching for wood- and agro-based pulp and paper units, an AOX limit in pulp below 0.5 mg/g, and a ban on carcinogenic and mutagenic biocides. It also restricts PFAS in food-contact papers, optical brightening agents in food-use papers, hazardous dyes and alkylphenol derivatives, reflecting growing regulatory focus on chemical safety in paper products that touch food.
What Does This Mean for the Broader Paper Industry?
Paper mills seeking the voluntary Eco-Mark label will need to install online emission monitoring systems linked to pollution control authorities and meet strict water and electricity consumption benchmarks, raising compliance costs particularly for smaller, unorganised mills. Larger, integrated producers with existing environmental infrastructure are likely to adapt faster and could use Eco-Mark certification as a competitive differentiator with FMCG and pharma customers increasingly scrutinising packaging supply chains for sustainability claims.
Market Reaction and Industry Response
Paper industry bodies are expected to submit comments during the 60-day window, likely focused on the cost of retrofitting older mills with ECF/TCF bleaching and online emission monitoring. The move follows a pattern of tightening environmental rules for the sector in 2026, alongside separate Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for paper packaging that took effect from April 1, 2026, adding to the compliance list for mills already dealing with raw material cost pressure.
What Happens Next?
The public comment period on the draft Eco-Mark rules runs through early August 2026, after which MoEF&CC is expected to finalise the criteria. Paper mills, especially those supplying food-contact and FMCG packaging, will need to assess whether to pursue Eco-Mark certification and what capital investment that requires in bleaching technology and emission monitoring systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new Eco-Mark rules for the paper industry?
MoEF&CC’s draft rules set minimum recycled or sustainably sourced fibre content for paper and paperboard, mandate ECF/TCF bleaching, cap AOX levels in pulp, and restrict hazardous chemicals like PFAS and certain biocides.
When do the new Eco-Mark rules for paper take effect?
The draft was published in the Official Gazette on June 8, 2026, and is open for public comment for 60 days before the government finalises and notifies the rules.
Which paper products are affected by the Eco-Mark draft rules?
The rules cover agro-residue-based paper, wood-based paper, and recycled paper and paperboard, including food-contact papers, which face additional restrictions on optical brightening agents and PFAS.
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