§1What this business is
Polypropylene granules mixed with colour are fed into an injection moulding machine, melted, injected into a cold mould and ejected as lunch-box parts, which are finished and packed. Polypropylene is used because it is safe for food and easy to wash. Sold through wholesalers, household and stationery shops, and as school or corporate orders.
Capacity: 1,500 lunch boxes a day; the report starts at 50% capacity in year 1 and sells each at ₹35.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with plastic-moulding or household-goods trading experience.
Who it is not for
A first-timer without moulding know-how or a sales network.
Advantages
- Everyday product with steady demand
- Bright colours sell well to children
- Scrap is ground and reused
- Same machine can mould other household items
Drawbacks
- High machine cost (₹38 L)
- Many existing brands and local moulders
- Each new design needs a new mould
- Plastic price swings
Skills you need
- Mould setting and process control
- Colour mixing
- Machine maintenance
- Wholesale selling
Why difficulty 4/5: Large machine investment and a crowded market.
§3Market
Who buys
- School children and parents
- Office-goers
- Schools and companies for gift orders
How it sells
- Household-goods wholesalers
- Stationery, gift and general stores
- Online marketplaces
Good to know
- The report says demand is high because PP boxes are easy to wash and safe for use.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Injection moulding machine | 1 | ₹20,00,000 |
| Water pump | 1 | ₹50,000 |
| Dry colour mixer machine | 1 | ₹2,50,000 |
| Scrap grinder machine | 1 | ₹3,00,000 |
| Air compressor | 1 | ₹2,50,000 |
| Chilling plant / cooling tower | 1 | ₹5,00,000 |
| Dies and other equipment | 1 lot | ₹4,50,000 |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Moulded Plastic Lunch Box (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- Polypropylene (PP) granulesthe report calls PP the best material for lunch boxes
- Colourant / masterbatchfor bright colours
From: PMEGP sample project report — Moulded Plastic Lunch Box (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- NOC from the State Pollution Control Board
- Trademark for your brand
- Use food-grade polypropylene and keep supplier certificates
§6Schemes & subsidies
PMEGP (project ₹47.22 L, within the ₹50 L manufacturing limit) and CGTMSE fit. Term loan ₹36 L is above the MUDRA limit.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: PMEGP sample report: total ₹47.22 L = plant & machinery ₹38.00 L + furniture ₹2.00 L + working capital ₹7.22 L. Land and building own or rented.
Working capital: Working capital ₹7.22 L (bank ₹6.50 L) for polypropylene, colour masterbatch and dealer credit.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: PLEXCONCIL
- Food-contact rules of the buyer country apply to export lots.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Polypropylene price rises
- Mould damage
- Design copying by competitors
- Power cuts in production
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working moulded plastic lunch box unit unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Moulded Plastic Lunch Box Unit?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.