What is PCR Plastic & Pros and Cons of PCR Packaging

Packaging has always been a vital factor to consider in the cosmetics industry. For a long time now, PCR recycled plastic has been the pick of many cosmetic companies, due to its high level of applications. 

For more information, please visit EcoPlas.

In this article, we&#;ll look into the pros and cons, and modes of application of PCR plastic. We&#;ll also clue you in on places you can find PCR packaging. Read on. 

What is PCR Plastic

PCR plastic is the latest packaging innovation that is now widely used across many industries, including the cosmetic industry. Not surprisingly, PCR plastic manufacture involves a meticulous process which we&#;ll cover below. 

Definition of PCR Plastic (Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic)

PCR&#;which is short for post-consumer resin&#; is an environmentally friendly material made from recycled plastics. These recycled plastics are mostly PET AND HDPE plastic products. 

Composition and Fabrication Process of PCR Plastic

Although the composition and fabrication process of PCR plastic is meticulous, it isn&#;t complicated. After consumers have used plastics and disposed of them, PCR recycling plants pick out these plastics and sort these bottles according to their plastic type. 

As mentioned earlier, the most common plastics are PET and HDPE. When these plastics are categorized, they are typically broken down into resin pellets. The PCR recycling plants then reheat these pellets and remold them into a new product. 

PCR plastic could be added in percentages to virgin plastic, or it could be used to fully make a new plastic product. However, it is important to note that the higher the PCR percentage, the less transparent it will be. In fact, many companies refrain from using 100% PCR to manufacture their packaging products in order to maintain the virgin resin look. 

Common Applications of PCR Plastics

PCR plastics are used to create packaging materials and consumer products, and are frequently used in the building and construction industry. Let&#;s take a look at these modes of application.

Packaging Materials

Many packaging companies are choosing to incorporate a particular percentage of PCR into their virgin plastic products. An example of this is the recycled cosmetic bottle produced by Cosmopacks. These sturdy PCR plastic bottles are just as durable and have as much quality as virgin plastic bottles.

That said, you can use PCR plastic to make bottles, containers, and jars. films, and trays. By using this material, the production of new plastic products will be significantly reduced.

Consumer Products

Asides from PCR plastic bottles, this environmentally-friendly material can be used to create various consumer products. Some of these products include cleaning products, office supplies such as pens, and electronics such as the casing for wires. 

Additionally, PCR cosmetic packaging and toiletry companies have now found ways to incorporate this material into several products and packaging options. PCR can even be used for manufacturing particular types of clothing!

Building and Construction

Due to the requirements of the building and construction industry, much plastic is needed on a daily basis. Flooring, drainage, roofing, and decking processes all involve the use of various types of plastics.

Currently, you can find PCR plastics being used to make pipes for drainage. They are also used for plastic roofing tiles and insulating materials in the construction of buildings.

What Are the Pros of PCR Packaging

PCR packaging undoubtedly has lots of advantages, both to companies and the environment. Some of these include environmental sustainability, conservation of resources, regulatory compliance with the involved bodies, cost efficiency, and the development of a positive brand image. Here are these advantages in better detail. 

Environmental Sustainability

Presently, over 3.2 billion people are affected by land pollution, and the abundance of plastic products is a significant factor contributing to that. Polluted lands often lose their agricultural value, and, in extreme cases, become uninhabitable.

Fortunately, the PCR material helps to preserve the environment&#;s health and reduce the amount of waste being dumped at landfills. Engaging in constant PCR recycling, it&#;ll help our planet to maintain an ecological balance and protect the well-being of generations to come. 

Conservation of Resources

Rather than using new plastic material each time you want to make a product, PCR material offers you the ability to conserve a lot of resources. These resources can be put to use elsewhere and will aid the conservation of resources for generations to come. 

Positive Brand Image

Nowadays, consumers frown upon and shun products that contain a high amount of virgin plastic. Environmentally conscious consumers now look for the nose eco-friendly products on the market. By using PCR cosmetic packaging, your brand and products will appeal to these audiences, and position you as a brand who cares about the well-being of the planet. 

Cosmopacks have several products that are extremely eco-friendly, and some of these include PCR plastic bottles, jars, and tubes, ready for any brand&#;s use and customization.

Regulatory Compliance

Due to the high level of land pollution on the planet, several regulatory bodies have put policies in place to prevent the continued production of abundant plastic waste. 

Luckily, using PCR plastic products from packaging companies like Cosmopacks ensures you stay well within compliance with these policies. Using this material keeps you on the right side of the law and prevents you from attracting unnecessary penalties and fines. 

Cost Efficiency

Lastly, using PCR, rather than virgin plastic, helps you save lots of money on production and packaging. This saved-up money can be redirected towards other parts of the business, fostering faster growth and development.

When manufactured expertly, this PCR recycled plastic material is often as durable and sturdy as its virgin plastic counterpart. 

What Are the Cons of PCR Packaging

Although there are lots of benefits to using PCR, there are a few drawbacks. These are its limited supply and quality inconsistencies. Let&#;s look at these.

Limited Supply

As helpful as this material is, it can only be created with the presence of PCR-recycled plastic. If you&#;re a large company with lots of orders to fulfill daily, this material might not be sufficient. It&#;s much more common to find virgin plastics than PCR plastics.

However, if you&#;re a small business focused on eco-friendliness, limited supply shouldn&#;t be a problem. 

Quality and Performance Limitations

As mentioned earlier, PCR plastics don&#;t exhibit the same physical appearance of purity that virgin plastics do. During the formulation process, there&#;s no telling what color it&#;ll come out in, or how clear the material will be. 

Additionally, its physical properties often vary after manufacture; some might come out sturdy, while others may come out defective. Ultimately, it affects its aesthetics and functionality. Many larger companies choose to stick with virgin plastic materials because of this.

A good cosmetic packaging manufacturing company like Cosmopacks employs standardized production techniques in producing cosmetic packaging. From material selection to the design and final production, our quality control team inspects the products to assure that the best quality products are delivered.

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For more information, please visit pcr plastic pros and cons.

Get High-Quality PCR Cosmetic Packaging from Cosmopacks 

Cosmopacks has some of the best PCR packagings for cosmetics. Besides, all our products comply with the standard safety requirements and regulations.

Comply with Safety Standards and Regulations

All PCR cosmetic packaging manufactured by Cosmopacks is done in compliance with the necessary safety regulation, and done to the required standard. You can be sure our cosmetics packaging will have no negative effect on the cosmetics, or on its users.

Source: Cosmpocaks

Various Options for Packaging Customization

Cosmopacks PCR cosmetic packaging can be easily customized to suit different brand requirements. We have transparent and clear options that give cosmetic manufacturers a blank canvas to display their creativity and customize the packaging to taste.

Conclusion

Using PCR plastics has more advantages than disadvantages in cosmetic packaging. Recycling plastic will now only produce a useful product from used plastic, but will save the ecosystem from the imminent danger plastic disposal poses to the environment. 

Cosmopacks offers highly-customizable PCR cosmetic packaging products that are affordable. Using advanced technology, our PCR packaging will give an elegant appeal to your cosmetic product. 

Get in touch with us if you want to get packaging that works for both you and your customers!

What Is PCR Plastic and Why Is It a Good Solution for Sustainable Packaging?

What Is PCR Plastic and Why Is It a Good Solution for Sustainable Packaging?

Responsibly sourced, sustainable packaging has been at the heart of our philosophy from the beginning.

Our dedication to leaving a lighter footprint on our planet means we have an ongoing commitment to sourcing pioneering sustainable packaging materials. Whether it's our signature glass bottles, made from recyclable glass sourced in Germany, or our innovative refill system made from 75% post-consumer material (rHDPE), we work hard to ensure every element of our packaging is sustainable as possible. Join us on our sustainable journey and learn how our PCR plastic and sustainable innovations are kinder for our Earth.

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What does PCR stand for?

PCR stands for Post-Consumer Recycled material or Post-Consumer Resin. These are recycled plastics referred to as rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate), rPP (Recycled Polypropylene Plastic) and rHDPE (Recycled High-Density Polythene).

What is PCR plastic?

PCR plastic is made from recycled plastic that can be widely recycled and then reprocessed into a resin, used to create new packaging. Giving packaging a second life, this process reduces the amount of plastic waste.

How is PCR plastic made?

Plastic waste is collected and colour-absorbed, then shredded into fine granules. These are then melted down and reprocessed into new plastic.

What are the benefits of PCR plastic?

Many benefits come with using PCR plastic. This type of plastic is less wasteful than new plastic, as a reduced amount of waste is produced and collected, creating less waste in landfills and water sources. PCR plastic also reduces your carbon footprint for a more positive impact on our Earth.

Does PCR plastic have disadvantages/limits?

During each recycling process, the materials can begin to lose their substance/quality, which is why there are high-grade recyclates and low-grade recyclates. As well as this, not all PCR plastic can be recycled, depending on its use.

Can PCR plastic be recycled?

Yes, PCR plastic is recyclable depending on how it is used. At Susanne Kaufmann, all of our PCR packaging is 100% recyclable.

How many times can PCR plastic be recycled?

PCR plastic is a circular material, so it can be recycled after use. You can safely recycle PCR plastic approximately seven-to-nine times.

Is PCR plastic biodegradable?

No, PCR plastic is not biodegradable. Biodegradable packaging naturally breaks down into non-toxic component substances once consigned to a compost heap. PCR packaging has already achieved the goal of sustainability before the consumer even purchases it, with no need for further reprocessing.

What is the difference between PCR and other eco-friendly packaging?

There are many different eco-friendly packaging options out there, such as recyclable packaging and biodegradable packaging. When looking at recyclable or recycled plastic, recyclable plastic needs to be a 'one material plastic' and not a mixture of different plastics to be considered 100% recyclable. For example, if you have a refill packaging with a cap-closure and this cap is made from another plastic, it would not be considered 100% recyclable. For this reason, we created our unique capless design, reducing the number of plastic materials needed and ensuring the packaging is 100% recyclable. Additionally, our secondary packaging uses 100% recyclable paper.

Our 100% Recyclable Refill System

We recently launched our 100% recyclable refill bottles for our best-selling 250ml cleansing products: Purifying Cleansing Gel, Hair & Body Wash, Invigorating Hair & Body Wash, Hand Soap, Soothing Cleansing Milk and Soothing Toner. Each recyclable refill not only helps reduce landfill waste, but also cuts carbon emissions by 69%. Made from 75% post-consumer material, it is 60% lighter than standard plastic bottles making it our most environmentally friendly packaging ever. We believe that sustainability is a never-ending journey and promise to continue to explore opportunities to reduce our environmental impact in the long run. We are committed to this philosophy and plan to expand our scope by adding more products to our refill system.

Our Multi-Protection Mist

Our Multi-Protection Mist is made from 100% recycled post-consumer material and is packaged in FSC-certified paper that is fully recyclable. Embracing our commitment to sustainable manufacturing, this is the next step towards even more sustainable product design.

Sharing Our Sustainability Commitment with You

At Susanne Kaufmann, we believe that we all have a part to play in looking after our planet and our sustainable packaging efforts go a long way in helping to reduce carbon emissions and waste. However, when it comes to recycling, we need to create a partnership between you and us. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

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

Learn more about our sustainable packaging