Post Consumer Recycled

material

Plastic resin material derived from products that have completed their intended use cycle by consumers and have been collected, processed, and remanufactured into new plastic pellets.

In Simple Terms

PCR resin comes from everyday plastic items like bottles, containers, and packaging that consumers have used and discarded. These materials are collected, cleaned, and processed back into plastic pellets that can be used to make new products.

Why It Matters

PCR content helps manufacturers meet sustainability goals and regulatory requirements while reducing virgin resin costs. However, PCR materials often have variable quality and performance characteristics that impact processing and final product properties.

Technical Details

PCR resins typically exhibit reduced molecular weight, altered rheological properties, and potential contamination compared to virgin materials. Quality varies significantly based on collection methods, sorting efficiency, and processing conditions. Material specifications often require blending with virgin resin to achieve target performance requirements.

Real-World Examples

PET bottle-to-bottle recycling

Clear PET bottles are processed into food-grade PCR pellets, but typically require 10-50% virgin PET blend to maintain clarity and mechanical properties for new bottle production.

HDPE detergent bottle regrind

Colored HDPE containers yield PCR resin with acceptable flow properties but limited color options, commonly used in non-food packaging applications with 25-100% PCR content.

Mixed plastic film collection

Post-consumer film generates lower-grade PCR with variable contamination levels, requiring extensive sorting and cleaning before processing into pellets for non-critical applications.