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.
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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.
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.
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!
Get Your Free Quote NowThough 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.
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.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Post-Consumer Plastic Reuse. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
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.
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.
Let&#;s start with the ones we usually generate, The Post- consumers. Indeed, the takeaway coffee you may have enjoyed this morning was served in a disposable plastic cup. Then, when you have finished your delicious drink, you have deposited this item in the rubbish. Bye plastic cup, no more use for you&#;
Oh wait, yes! Here starts the Post-consumers journey. After being discarded, these plastics are picked up, cleaned, and reprocessed at processing facilities, where they are converted into recycled plastics.
Post-consumer plastics are recycled plastics used to manufacture an item (like a plastic water bottle) and then recycled.
This process allows the reuse of plastics and converts them into new products, reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment. For instance, at Sustonable, for every m2 of surface, we recycle 100 PET plastic bottles.
From an industrial perspective, when plastics are reused and made into new products, the production process is more sustainable and provides incalculable ecological benefits because it does not require fossil fuels as raw materials.
So, instead of introducing new plastics into the environment, Sustonable reuses an already processed material, forming a circular approach for our waste and protecting natural resources.
Pre-consumer recycled plastics is a rejected material before it was even ready for consumer use. Pre-consumer is reintroducing manufacturing discards (such as defective aluminum cans, or faulty plastic bottles) back into the manufacturing process. Pre-consumer waste is commonly practiced in production industries. It is often considered &#;production efficiency&#; rather than recycling because it usually is recovered material waste or excess product from their manufacturing processes.
Knowing the positive role Post-consumer plays for the planet, industries and public organisms should address their efforts to reduce Post-consumer plastic waste. We are well aware of the impact plastic waste has on our environment, so Post-consumer should be the number one priority. Global government legislations must facilitate post-consumer recycled plastics into manufacturing processes and encourage industries to use them to produce new consumer goods.
So remember, next time you have a coffee on the go, please place the disposable cup in a recycle bin, but, it will be much better if you use your own reusable mug; there are tonnes and tonnes of plastic to reuse already!
For more information, please visit Is PCR Plastic Recyclable.