What is PCR plastic?

PCR is short for post-consumer recycled. PCR products are made from recycled plastic from discarded materials from households, commercial, industrial and institutional facilities. Post-consumer waste is the world’s largest waste stream. Therefore we are constantly looking for ways to reduce the size of this stream. In order to make PCR plastics, waste is converted into raw materials. This makes it a very eco-friendly solution. In the following article we answer frequently asked questions about this material.

How is PCR plastic made?

The production of PCR plastics starts with the collection of post-consumer waste. Through specialised sorting (manual or otherwise), thorough cleaning and reheating and grinding, the PCR granule is produced. This granulate is then used to make new products.

What is the difference regarding other recycling streams?

Another recycling stream is PIR: Post Industrial Recycle of Regrind. This uses post-industrial waste. This is waste generated in the production process of products. This can be material that ended up on the factory floor or material with a production error. Many companies already recycle their own stream of post-industrial waste, making this material unavailable to the free market.

Post-consumer waste, on the other hand, originates at the end user. Examples include paper waste, green waste and plastic packaging that the consumer throws away. This is not yet recycled on a large scale because the loop is larger, which increases the uncertainty in terms of purity and uniformity of the material. As it is the largest waste stream, it is precisely here that most environmental gains can be made.

What is the advantage of PCR plastic over virgin plastic?

Reuse of plastic that has already been made is not only a cost-effective process, but also a waste reduction process. In addition, processing the used plastic requires less water, less fossil fuels and less energy. The use of PCR also has indirect benefits. All the benefits are listed below:

• Less use of fossil resources
• Reduction of CO2 emissions up to 85%
• Less water consumption
• Less energy consumption
• Reduction of the amount of waste
• Can be recycled after use
• It shows consumers that brand owners are concerned about the impact of their plastic packaging on the environment
• Helps to create a circular economy