Post-Consumer Resin

• FDA approved

  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.

• Reduced environmental impact

• Reuses recovered plastics such as single-use items

• Fully recyclable

Packaging Made From Post-Consumer Resin

What is PCR?

PCR (Post-Consumer Resin) is plastic that has already been recycled and is repurposed, ready to use again.

It begins with the collection and sorting of recycled products &#; plastic bottles for example. These bottles are then separated from the other plastics, washed and cleaned of all other materials (for example the labels, bottle tops etc). The recycled plastic is then extruded and reprocessed into PCR.

Will I Compromise Quality?

As post-consumer resin consists of a blend of recycled resins (that would have otherwise ended up in landfills) it is known that there can be minor defects on the packaging and slight variations in color. However, these minor defects do not affect the overall function of the product and are strictly cosmetic.

By choosing a reliable packaging supplier, you can greatly mitigate these issues. At Emmerson Packaging, we have a graphics department that has collectively over 150 years of prepress experience. From your designs, we can develop your graphic materials that will yield optimal print quality on our presses.

While there may be a small cosmetic compromise, it is a lot less than the compromise made on the environment. When marketed properly, your customers may be willing to pay more for those imperfections &#; knowing your organization is taking steps toward environmental sustainability.

Why PCR?

What makes post-consumer resin a powerful product is that it has already been processed from fossil fuel to plastic, meaning there is no further impact on the environment, so PCR can be used again and again &#; which has long-lasting benefits not only for the environment, but on your customer retention and advocacy.

Sustainable packaging reduces excess and uses renewable materials that are lightweight, making a positive impact on the circular economy through manufacturing, distribution, and disposal. Discover the impact your sustainable packaging choice will have on the environment with our interactive comparison tool. Calculate your results now.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Post Consumer Recycled Resin.

What is PCR Packaging?

PCR, short for post-consumer resin (post-consumer recycled), is an environment-friendly packaging option that is made from recycled plastics, most commonly PET and HDPE plastic products. Instead of being sent to a local landfill, used items such as bottles, milk jugs, buckets, and industrial products like IBC totes and polydrums can be broken down, melted and reconstructed to make a resin material that&#;s then added to create a new product&#;PCR packaging.

PCR packaging is used to propel a continuous cycle of creating various "new" products with used recycled plastics. In addition, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), post-consumer recycled production reduces the reliance of fossil fuels as well as raw materials for its formulation in comparison to virgin resin products.

Pros of PCR Packaging

• The recycled resin reduces the amount of waste that is landfilled and reduces the use of fossil fuels which, in turn, improves the environmental impact of plastic packaging. PCR packaging appeals to eco-conscious consumers, and, studies suggest that people, particularly generations Gen Z and millennials, are committed to having a positive impact on the environment, indicating PCR plastics are the way of the future.
• PCR allows manufacturers to produce high-quality products like a virgin resin product would at competitive prices while reducing their environmental impact. The grade of PCR plastics is equally matched with regular plastic film in terms of protection, performance, and strength. Post-consumer resin blocks light, oxygen, and other gases from seeping into the package.
• PCR packaging can be suitable for food-contact use if it meets the FDA Guidelines.
• These plastics decrease carbon footprints (the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by our actions).

Cons of PCR Packaging

• The required reheating process in creating PCR plastics can alter the color and clarity of the product depending on the amount of resin that is added. This process does not hinder the function or durability of the bottle. Manufacturers can shy away from using post-consumer resin because the dark properties of the bottle do not fit the aesthetic they want to portray for their packaging.
• Benefits of PCR plastic are dependent on the consumer recycling their products.
• Price of manufacturing is contingent on the amount of plastics recycled.

How Is PCR Used?

After consumers recycle their products, recycling plants sort the bottles according to their plastic type. Because PET and HDPE plastics are most commonly used to manufacture PCR products, these plastics are collected, washed and broken down into resin pellets. The resulting pellets are then reheated, molded and formed into new plastic containers.

PCR can be added in percentages ranging from 10% to 100% along with virgin plastic depending on the manufacturer's preference.

If post-consumer resin is used to manufacture a plastic bottle, a higher percentage can impact transparency and color. Some companies choose to incorporate less PCR in their products and more virgin resin so the material can retain the look of virgin resin. For example, if a product is composed of 25% PCR and 75% virgin resin material, then the product will look more like a virgin bottle. Additionally, many PCR plastic bottles are typically intended for products that do not require transparent packaging.

What is Virgin Resin?

Virgin resin is the term for new and unused plastic resin without any recycled products to generate an original product. Due to its clean appearance and stable nature, virgin resin is heavily used to produce a wide variety of plastic products.

PIR or PCR? Reprocessed vs Recycled

PIR, or post-industrial resin, is reworked plastic produced in the manufacturing process. PIR consists of grinded resins that were collected either from extra scrap parts during the molding stage of production or finished products that did not pass the quality control standards of the original product. Despite never being used before, the material is not considered virgin because it has been put through a second reheating process.

PIR products have not reached the consumer whereas PCR products include used material that's already reached the consumer and returned.

While PIR is reprocessed resin, PCR is made of used and recycled resin. Like PCR packaging, PIR also helps decrease the amount of plastic sent to landfills as well as reduce the demand for raw materials.

Is PCR Packaging Biodegradable?

The term biodegradable is defined as the length of time it takes for plastic to fully break down and degrade by the consumption of living microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria. While PCR is a more environmentally friendly option (in comparison to virgin resin) since it's made from recycled plastic, according to The Federal Trade Commission's Green Guides, the plastic itself is not biodegradable unless it is decomposed within a year of being disposed of in landfills, incinerators and recycling plants.

How Can We Help?

If you wish to explore other eco-friendly packaging alternatives from PCR packaging to glass containers, our packaging experts can assist with finding the best product to meet your requirements. Contact us today to discuss your packaging needs!

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Post-Consumer Plastic Reuse.