Mother Dairy launches India’s first naturally degradable milk pouches in DELHI-NCR after four years of research

INDIA – Mother Dairy has launched India’s first naturally degradable milk pouches for its cow milk variant, designed to break down in soil without leaving microplastics, rolling out across Delhi-NCR from 5 June.

The new packaging converts into bioavailable wax in soil, which naturally occurring microbes then break down. 

Conventional LDPE pouches can remain in the environment for centuries, while Mother Dairy’s degradable pouches are designed to fully degrade within a few years under suitable soil conditions. 

Meenesh Shah, chairman of Mother Dairy and the National Dairy Development Board, described the initiative as an important move toward reducing plastic waste, assuring that there will be no added cost for consumers. 

The launch comes after over four years of research.

The Technology Behind Degradable Pouches

The pouches are designed to degrade through a process where the polymer structure breaks down into bioavailable wax, which soil microbes consume as an energy source.

Unlike oxo-degradable plastics, which fragment into microplastics without fully biodegrading, Mother Dairy’s pouches are intended to convert into non-toxic biomass. 

The technology was developed in-house over four years, suggesting that Mother Dairy has been working on this innovation since approximately 2022. 

Jayatheertha Chary, managing director of Mother Dairy, explained that the company has developed a naturally degradable milk pouch after over four years of research, noting that the pouches are designed to fully degrade within a few years when disposed of under suitable soil conditions.

India’s Plastic Waste Challenge

India generates vast quantities of plastic waste annually, with food and beverage packaging accounting for a substantial share. 

Milk pouches, which are often low in recycling value and frequently disposed of improperly, contribute significantly to this waste stream. 

Mother Dairy has previously undertaken efforts to address this issue through plastic collection and recycling programmes. 

Chary stated that the company’s plastic packaging is recyclable, and Mother Dairy continues to collect consumer waste packages to recycle them, adding that this innovation will make it easier for consumers to practise sustainability with ease.

Rollout and Future Plans

The Delhi-NCR rollout marks the first phase of the initiative. Based on consumer acceptance and operational feasibility, Mother Dairy plans to gradually expand the use of degradable packaging to additional milk variants and potentially to other regions across the country.

Mother Dairy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board and has long been a key milk supplier in Delhi-NCR. 

The launch comes ahead of World Environment Day 2026, whose theme, “Inspired by Nature”, highlights climate action.

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