Redefining Sustainable Shopping: Embracing PCR Packaging

Looking for "made with recycled content" on labels is a great start if you're trying to make more sustainable choices. Choosing products made from recycled materials instead of new ones helps reduce landfill waste, lowers the demand for raw materials, and reduces the energy needed for production. But there's more to it. Sometimes, you'll see labels mentioning that the product or packaging you are considering is made with "post-consumer recycled material," along with a percentage. With the constant buzz around greenwashing, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the terms. However, a bottle with a PCR label is quite different from one that doesn't have it. 

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Why Post-Consumer Recycled Waste is a Sustainable Option

Post-consumer waste comes from products or packaging that have reached the end of their lifecycle with the consumer. After being used, and hopefully reused, multiple times through refilling a plastic cleaning bottle and reusing the spray trigger, these items face two options: end up in a landfill or be recycled.

Keeping plastic out of landfills is crucial. Around 46% of plastic waste is landfilled, but plastic can take a long time to degrade. Plastic bags can take 10-20 years to break down, while plastic bottles can take up to 450 years. This slow breakdown generates numerous smaller plastic fragments, which become microplastics once their size reaches five millimeter or less. Additionally, 22% of plastic waste is mismanaged and becomes litter, harming the environment and threatening animal and human health. So, recycling post-consumer waste is essential to prevent plastic from becoming pollution.

Creating post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic starts with collecting and sorting recycled PET and HDPE items from commercial and residential recycling programs like bottles and milk jugs. The plastic is then cleaned and sorted, and any scrap materials are removed. The items are broken down, melted and reformed into a resin material. This resin can be mixed with other plastics to create PCR plastic packaging, bottles, jars, and closures, with varying content percentages of up to 100%.

Incorporating PCR resins into products allows manufacturers to significantly reduce the impact of their operations. Using recycled plastic requires fewer fossil fuels and energy to produce. For example, recycling just ten plastic bottles can save enough energy to power a laptop for over 25 hours. At a minimum, PCR reduces energy consumption by 79% and GHG emissions by 67%.

Challenges and Progress for PCR

So why aren't more packaging and products made with PCR materials? The main reasons are material use regulations, cost and availability.

There is uncertainty about the purity and uniformity of PCR materials and whether they may contain harmful substances. For instance, black plastic kitchen items made from recycled electronics may have toxic flame retardants and other chemicals. Additionally, PCR plastic can be tricky to color. It's hard to achieve light, transparent and pastel shades because the material isn't completely clear. This can be a problem for marketers who want their products to stand out on store shelves.

However, the most significant obstacles to increasing PCR plastic use are its cost and accessibility. PCR resin can be more expensive than virgin resin, the availability of PCR materials is limited, and the recycling streams often contain contaminated plastics, all of which make it challenging to get a consistent supply of high-quality material for PCR products. Most curbside recycling systems only accept rigid plastics #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE), so sourcing PCR for other types of plastics, such as #5 (PP), which is commonly used in pumps and caps, can be difficult.

These issues mean there's not enough properly recycled plastic to meet the demand for recycled content. Currently, the supply of PCR plastics meets only about 6% of demand, which is expected to increase by 5 million metric tons by . This shortage drives up prices and limits the use of PCR materials. More robust legislation is needed to address this, which is why this is a crucial issue in the negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty.

Learn How to Improve Your Carbon Footprint and Appeal to Eco-Conscious Consumers

Plastic packaging plays a vital role in protecting products, preserving freshness, and ensuring safe delivery to consumers. But with global plastic waste topping 400 million metric tons annually, and packaging materials making up a significant portion of U.S. landfill waste, many businesses are rethinking their impact. As sustainability becomes a higher priority for consumers, brands have an opportunity to lead the way be exploring sustainable packaging options.

With growing concerns about pollution, legislation, and environmental impact, the pressure to find sustainable packaging options is stronger than ever.

Fortunately, the shift to sustainable packaging is both possible and profitable. Consumers are increasingly demanding eco-friendly solutions. 82% are willing to pay more for products with sustainable packaging. In fact, products with ESG-related labels saw 28% growth over five years. Products without these statements only grew by 20%.

Now is the time to explore smarter packaging strategies that align with evolving consumer expectations and environmental mandates. In this blog, we’re breaking down three concepts you need to understand. Post-consumer recyclable packaging (PCR), the How2Recycle program (H2R), and extended producer responsibility (EPR). That way, you can make informed decisions and stay ahead in the sustainable packaging movement.

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

PCR Packaging

Post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is made from the items that consumers recycle every day. This might include aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, plastic bottles, and more.

Materials are collected by local recycling programs, then shipped to recycling facilities. There, they are sorted into bales based on the material. The bales are then melted or ground into small pellets and molded into new items.

PCR allows brands to fulfill their sustainability goals without relying on the consumer to recycle or compost the packaging after use. This encourages a closed-loop system where plastic is reused and recycled instead of being disposed of in landfills. Additionally, PCR plastic generally uses less energy and releases fewer emissions than producing virgin plastic.

Want to explore PCR options from PPC Flex? Learn more here.

H2R Program

How2Recycle is a standardized labeling system that clearly communicates disposal instructions to consumers. It began in as a project of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. In , it finished its soft launch with 12 pilot companies.

The goals of the H2R program are simple:

• Create a clear, well-understood, and nationally harmonized label that enables companies to convey to consumers how to dispose of a package.
• Improve the reliability, completeness, and transparency of recyclability claims.
• Provide a labeling system that is designed to follow legislation and guidance in the United States and Canada.
• Increase the availability and quality of recycled material.

Signing up for the H2R program is easy and could have major benefits for your brand. In fact, 84% of consumers are more likely to buy a product that includes a How2Recycle label. Companies must become members, pay an annual fee, and sign a membership agreement to become part of the program. Brands and retailers who are already members of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition receive a discounted membership. Material manufacturers and converters can also become members.

Once you’ve enrolled in the program, you simply have to submit your packaging to the H2R program. From there, they will designate which label should be on your packaging. Once your packaging is in consumers’ hands, you can reference the member platform to analyze the overall recyclability of your packaging. You can also find information that will help you continue to improve your packaging.

If you’d rather not go through all these steps, you can simply partner with PPC Flex for your packaging materials. We can create packaging that’s certified to certain aspects of the How2Recycle program. In fact, our Thrive line of products offers all the benefits of traditional packaging with the added benefits of the H2R program.

EPR for Packaging

The concept and implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) is not new. The paint, battery, and pharmaceutical industries have been impacted by this idea over the past few decades. Now, it’s making its way into the packaging industry.

Much of the packaging EPR laws target plastic and single-use plastics. It intends to shift responsibility away from the consumer/taxpayer and toward the producer (brand/importer/distributor). The goal is to encourage producers to design packaging with waste reduction and sustainability in mind to help advance the United States toward a truly circular economy. At the time of writing, 12 states have introduced legislation on EPR for packaging. Five EPR for packaging bills have been passed in the United States.

Most programs encourage or require producers of packaging products to join a collective Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), though some allow producers to comply individually. With most EPR programs, the producers will pay fees to the PRO. The PRO then distributes the funds to cover the costs required by the program legislation. Part of those costs will typically provide funding for the end-of-life infrastructure (collection, sorting, processing) of covered products.

Producers do not need to be headquartered in a regulated state to be subject to the state’s EPR regulations. If they’re selling into the state, they will likely be obligated.

Complying with these new regulations is easy with PPC Flex by your side. Learn more in our in-depth blog.

Overwhelmed by Changing Packaging Rules and Regulations? We Can Help

Navigating the ever-evolving world of sustainable packaging options can feel overwhelming. But, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re exploring PCR materials, seeking guidance on How2Recycle labeling, or preparing for EPR compliance, PPC Flex is here to help. Our team is well-versed in the latest packaging innovations and regulations. We’re committed to helping you reduce your environmental impact while meeting consumer expectations.

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