PCR vs PIR - Packed With Innovation

What is the difference?

For more information, please visit EcoPlas.

The difference between PCR and PIR comes down to the source of the waste material which is recycled and used to make new plastic products.

PCR stands for post-consumer recycled. PCR resins are made from materials that have been used by the consumer and then discarded.

PIR stands for post-industrial recycled. PIR resins are made from the waste generated during the manufacturing process rather than from a product than has been consumed.

What are the advantages of PCR?

• Using PCR plastic helps to divert plastic waste away from landfills and reduce plastic pollution.
• Virgin plastic materials are made from the polymers found in crude oil. By using recycled resins, you are reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.
• Any packaging made from 30% PCR content is Plastic Packaging Tax compliant. This can help you save money as it allows you to avoid the charge of £200 per tonne which is levied on plastic packaging which falls below the 30% recycled content threshold.
• PCR plastics help contribute to a truly circular economy.

What are the disadvantages of PCR?

• The quality of PCR plastics can vary significantly depending on the source materials and the recycling process used. Inconsistent quality makes it challenging to predict and control the performance of recycled plastic products.
• The recycling process can result in colour variations and aesthetic imperfections in PCR plastics.
• PCR resins often have inferior mechanical properties (e.g., strength, durability, and heat resistance) compared to virgin plastics. This can limit their suitability for certain high-performance applications.
• The PCR recycling process requires high tech equipment and is much more complicated than PIR recycling. This is because the flow of post-consumer plastics for recycling is much harder to control and there are many different types of plastic mixed together and they require extensive cleaning to prevent contamination.

What are the advantages of PIR?

• Using PIR reduces the demand for new raw materials and conserves natural resources.
• As with PCR, by using PIR you are helping divert plastic waste away from landfill and preventing plastic pollution.
• The flow of waste materials used to make PIR plastic is much easier to control that PCR. Because there is more control over the consistency of PIR feedstock, this means that PIR plastics tend to have a much higher quality and significantly better performance.
• It is commonly believed that PIR plastic packaging is not Plastic Packaging Tax compliant, however this is incorrect. Any plastic packaging with 30% PIR content falls the right side of the tax.
• The PIR recycling process is much cheaper and simpler than the PCR recycling process because there is more control over the raw materials.

What are the disadvantages of PIR?

• The supply of post-industrial recycled plastic can be limited and subject to fluctuations based on the availability of manufacturing waste.

It seen to be as sustainable as PCR plastics and post-consumer waste is the bigger problem which needs solving.

Bottles and jars produced using Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) represent a growing trend in the packaging industry &#; and PET containers are at the forefront of that trend. PET (or Polyethylene terephthalate), typically produced from fossil fuels, is one of the most common plastics in the world - and it is one of the easiest plastics to recycle. This makes manufacturing Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with PCR content a high priority for Brand Owners. These bottles can be produced with anywhere between 10 percent and 100 percent-PCR content &#; although incremental content percentages do require a willingness of Brand Owners to compromise clarity and color aesthetic.

Want more information on pcr plastic pros and cons? Feel free to contact us.

WHAT IS PCR?

PCR is derived from post-consumer recycled content &#; mostly materials that have been recovered or diverted from your local municipal solid waste stream. A good example is a plastic water bottle tossed into a curb-side recycle bin. Instead of that item going to a landfill, it goes to a recycling center where it is processed and reconstituted into an acceptable aftermarket resin material. That material is then sold to converters who turn it into usable bottles, jars and closures once again. Thermoplastics, such as PET, are generally easy to recycle because the polymer chain breaks down at a relatively low temperature, so there is no degradation of the polymer chain during the recycling process. This allows PET to be recycled many times before it becomes unusable, though contamination can reduce the number of &#;closed loop&#; cycles that PET can go through.

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF PCR?

By using PCR, we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and improve the environmental impact of packaging by reducing the amount of waste going into landfills. Post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) makes all the sense in the world. It is cost competitive, available, and creates greater positive impact than other choices. For example, the carbon footprint of manufacturing 100% PCR Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), like in a water bottle, is 60% lower than virgin PET &#; and that includes all the energy to collect, recycle, and remanufacture the plastic.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF PCR?

The required reheating process can alter the color and clarity of the bottle; as the concentration of PCR is increased, the look becomes gradually darker. This can be counterbalanced with the use of colorants, but these bottles are generally more applicable for products that don&#;t require crystal clear packaging &#; particularly past the 25-percent ratio. Below you can see the gradual differences in appearance as the percentage of PCR increases.

Critics will say that there&#;s not enough PCR available to check growing demand, but as Brand Owners currently using virgin PET demand greater PCR content, the market will grow &#; which is especially important given the current low rates of recycling (PET recycling rate in the US is 24%, NAPCOR).

WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE?

As Brand Owners respond to growing consumer interest in sustainable packaging, manufacturers are responding with technologies to enhance the PCR supply chain. Though these markets are still evolving, ecologically-conscious initiatives such as these represent a growing availability of PCR content based products.

If you have specific questions about suitability, leave them below and we&#;ll try to help!

For more information, please visit Post-Consumer Plastic Reuse.