What You Need to Know About Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR ...

Both savvy shoppers and consumer packaged goods companies are placing more emphasis on sustainability, reducing waste, and using less energy. As a brand owner, your sustainability goals are more important now than ever, as consumers begin seeking out brands focused on the environment.  

EcoPlas are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

When it comes to packaging, it’s no surprise that brands are looking for eco-friendly packaging. While recyclable or compostable packaging are the two most common types of sustainable packaging, there is a third choice gaining traction on the shelf – post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging.

What are Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Plastics? 

Post-consumer recycled content, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, like aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bottles. These materials are typically collected by local recycling programs and shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted into bales, based on the material. The bales are then purchased and melted (or ground) into small pellets and molded into new items. The new PCR plastic material can then be used for a variety of finished products, including packaging.

10 Day Turnaround Times?

Need it fast? We can help. Rollstock orders can ship in as little as 10 business days after artwork approval. Formed pouches in as little as 15!

How is PCR Packaging Different from Recyclable and Compostable Packaging?

Though PCR, recyclable, and compostable packaging are all sustainable packaging options, they each differ in the way that they are processed and what they can offer consumers. 

PCR packaging is manufactured with film that is made from recycled materials. In general, PCR packaging, such as post consumer recycled plastic, cannot be recycled again since it’s already made from recycled materials. This allows brands to fulfill their sustainability goals, without relying on the consumer to recycle or compost the package after use. 

A package is deemed recyclable when the materials can be processed and used again.  Once the package enters the recycling stream, it is broken down into raw materials and sold to manufacturers. One potential downside of recyclable packaging is that the benefits are dependent on the consumer actually recycling the package, and knowing where to recycle the package.

Lastly, compostable packaging is packaging that breaks down completely in a compost site and leaves no toxic residue. In order for a plastic to be called compostable, it must biodegrade, or break down into carbon dioxide, water, or biomass at the same rate as cellulose (paper).  One potential downside of compostable packaging is that not all consumers have access to industrial composting facilities. 

The Benefits of PCR Packaging 

While all eco-friendly packaging options are a step in the right direction for brands looking to be more sustainable, PCR packaging, in particular, has some benefits that are worth discussing. 

In general, PCR films are a great packaging option for brands looking for eco-friendly flexible packaging, and can be developed into stand up pouches, lay flat pouches, and rollstock. These films can be used in most industries including confection, coffee, baked goods, snacks, pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, pet treats, and sports nutrition.

PCR packaging also matches the quality of regular flexible packaging. PCR film can offer the same level of protection, barrier performance, and strength as regular plastic film. You can rest assured knowing that PCR film will still block light, oxygen, and other gases from penetrating the package layer and getting into your product. 

Lastly, and quite possibly the most obvious benefit, is that using PCR material can help your company reduce its carbon footprint, lessen its impact on landfills, and meet its overall sustainability goals.

The best part? PCR packaging is a great option for brands who want to offer a sustainable solution for consumers, with no requirements or actions needed on the consumer end, unlike recyclable and compostable packaging. 

Finding a PCR Packaging Partner

As you examine your company’s sustainability goals, consider partnering with a PCR packaging manufacturing. At ePac, we offer PCR pouches, rollstock, and lay-flat pouches in varying percentages, for any of your project’s custom flexible packaging needs. Our PCR film is FDA-compliant for direct food contact and can accommodate high-impact, photo-quality graphics. It’s just one of our sustainable flexible packaging services that we deliver for our customers. Ready to get started, or want to learn more? Call us today or request a quote and see how using PCR can help you meet your sustainability goals. 

Related Products

Please read this cookie policy (“cookie policy”, "policy") carefully before using the epacflexibles.com website
(“website”, "service") operated by ePac Holdings, LLC. ("us", 'we", "our").

What are cookies?

Cookies are simple text files that are stored on your computer or mobile device by a website’s
server. Each cookie is unique to your web browser. It will contain some anonymous information
such as a unique identifier, website’s domain name, and some digits and numbers.

What types of cookies do we use?

Necessary cookies

Necessary cookies allow us to offer you the best possible experience when accessing and
navigating through our website and using its features. For example, these cookies let us
recognize that you have created an account and have logged into that account.

Functionality cookies

Functionality cookies let us operate the site in accordance with the choices you make. For
example, we will recognize your username and remember how you customized the site during
future visits.

Analytical cookies

These cookies enable us and third-party services to collect aggregated data for statistical
purposes on how our visitors use the website. These cookies do not contain personal
information such as names and addresses and are used to help us improve your user
experience of the website.

How to delete cookies?

If you want to restrict or block the cookies that are set by our website, you can do so through
your browser setting. Alternatively, you can visit www.internetcookies.com, which contains
comprehensive information on how to do this on a wide variety of browsers and devices. You
will find general information about cookies and details on how to delete cookies from your
device.

Contacting us

If you have any questions about this policy or our use of cookies, please contact us.

In spite of worldwide recycling efforts, landfill disposal remains the leading waste disposal technique (50%). And as such, the world's largest landfill site alone receives 3.8 million tons of waste annually.

As sustainability leaders explore innovative methods and materials to lower this number, one of the most highly pursued interests is post-consumer recycled content (PCR).

PCR-based products help reduce the need for landfill waste disposal, owing to their multiple life cycles. Manufacturers can recycle and reintroduce them into the supply chain once they’ve reached the end of their useful life.

But this process isn’t as simple as sorting our trash into different bins and taking it to the curb on recycling day. Recycling abounds in jargon and acronyms. Businesses transitioning to PCR packaging should take the time to learn these terms. In this article, we’ll review the basics.

Want more information on Post-Consumer Plastic Reuse? Feel free to contact us.

♻️ Recycled content terms explained

Here's the kicker: Post-consumer recycled content isn’t always present in recycled products. Find out the truth about recycled content to avoid being misled.

Recycled content

Recycled content refers to materials recovered from the waste stream during production or after consumer use. It's the sum of pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled materials used in a product. The greater the sum, the fewer virgin materials are used in the product.

Some products come with labels indicating the recycled content used. A kraft mailer made from 20% manufacturing scrap trimmings (pre-consumer) and 45% curbside recycling bins (post-consumer) would disclose a total recycled content of 65%.

The following example illustrates how this works in practice: Footwear company Barbara Bennett uses noissue’s Custom Tissue Paper packaging that’s made from 30% recycled material and 70% new acid-free virgin pulp. In this case, 30% represents the combination of pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content. Here’s what the packaging material looks like:

Post-consumer recycled (PCR)

Post-consumer recycled content comes from products that have reached their life cycle and would have otherwise ended up in landfills. These include items you typically toss in garbage bins, such as plastic bottles, food containers, aluminum cans, and shipping boxes.

Municipal recycling programs collect and transport this solid waste to recycling facilities. The recycled content then becomes raw materials for new production cycles.

Production > Consumption > End of life > Recycling > Reproduction

Note: Production waste that doesn’t enter the consumer market isn’t accounted for as post-consumer recycled content.

Pre-consumer content

Pre-consumer content consists of discarded materials during production, including rejects and offcuts. But as per ISO , it doesn’t include rework, regrind, or scrap generated on-site and reused in the same or another manufacturing process.

So if a paper mill worker picks up some paperboard cuttings and feeds it back into the pulping process, it doesn’t count as pre-consumer content. That’s because the goal here is efficient production, not recycling. But if the company uses the cuttings to make new low-grade paperboard instead of discarding them, the material is considered pre-consumer content

Note: Pre-consumer content, a.k.a. post-industrial waste, never makes it to the final goods distributed to consumers. But the material can be recycled, becoming post-industrial recycled content.

Post-industrial recycled (PIR)

Post-industrial recycled refers to recovered or reclaimed materials from manufacturing waste. Piggybacking off our paper mill example above: Imagine cutting up paperboard and bleaching it to produce kraft boxes, that’s PIR. The same applies if the company sells the reclaimed materials to a third-party manufacturer or donates them to recycling programs.

Whether it's a legal mandate or a cost-cutting strategy, companies now recognize the value of repurposing post-industrial waste. This saves them a significant chunk of money on waste collection and disposal. They also don’t have to outsource recycled materials as they already have them on hand.

Post-consumer waste (PCW)

Post-consumer waste (PCW) includes cardboard boxes, magazines, and toilet paper. PCW is one of the most recommended packaging materials because it supplies roughly 50% of the fiber used to make paper.

In terms of sustainability, PCW has greater contributions than other recycled materials. The latest EPA data shows paper and paperboard have the highest recycling rate (68%) compared to other municipal solid waste.

Furthermore, every ton of recycled PCW reduces greenhouse gas emissions by one metric ton of carbon equivalent. That’s like saving 7,000 gallons of water, 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space, and energy to power the average American home for six months.

Be it PCR or PCW, recycling post-consumer materials is a simple yet effective way to help the environment. Anyone, especially SMB owners, can contribute to this environmental cause with PCR packaging.

What are the benefits of PCR packaging?

Packaging accounts for about 36% of all plastic produced, of which 85% end up in landfills. What’s worse is that 98% of single-use plastics are made from virgin materials.

Post-consumer recycled content closes the loop on sustainable packaging by reducing virgin material consumption and end-consumer waste. Business-wise, it’s also an effective way to reduce costs while helping you achieve your sustainability goals. The following reasons may persuade you:

• PCR packaging can boost your bottom line. 67% of customers prefer shopping for products that come in recyclable packaging. Switching to PCR can help attract these sales while reducing disposal costs — thus, increasing your net profit.
• PCR packaging can help turn your customers into advocates. 77% of conscious consumers want to level up their sustainability efforts, with recycling being one of them. Thanks to PCR packaging, you can fulfill this demand and nurture them in the long run.
• PCR packaging can put you ahead of the competition. Customers pressure 75% of firms to take sustainability actions, but one-third have been slow to respond. Taking action today with PCR packaging can build your brand and make it stand out among your competitors.

How does PCR packaging differ from compostable and recyclable packaging?

PCR, compostable, and other recyclable packaging are all sustainable. Consumers can reuse, recycle, or compost them instead of dumping them after a single use. However, their manufacturing process and life cycle differ.

For compostable packaging, either a home compost pile or a commercial facility will do. Otherwise, the packaging might not degrade and reach landfills.

Meanwhile, PCR packaging raw material degrades with each recycling loop. It's also why most packaging companies don't use 100% post-consumer recycled content. To ensure eco-efficiency and quality, they use a combination of PCR content and virgin materials.

The waste cycle is complete after the PCR packaging fully degrades. Customers only need to separate and dispose of it properly, and recycling facilities will take care of the rest.

How to make the switch to PCR packaging

Now that you're familiar with the terminologies and benefits of recycling, it's time to take action and outsource your packaging. List your options and speak with prospective suppliers to see what's out there.

Your packaging should reflect your brand identity. Along with recyclable materials, prioritize factors such as quality, functionality, and aesthetics. Run a cost-and-benefit analysis before making a decision.

Are you interested in learning more about Is PCR Plastic Recyclable? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!