The full name of PCR is Post-Consumer Recycled material, which is post-consumer recycled plastic. PCR materials are “extremely valuable”. Usually, waste plastics generated after circulation, consumption and use can be turned into extremely valuable industrial production raw materials through physical recycling or chemical recycling, realizing resource regeneration and recycling. For example, recycled materials such as PET, PE, PP, HDPE, etc., come from the waste plastics produced by the commonly used lunch boxes, shampoo bottles, mineral water bottles, washing machine barrels, etc. After reprocessing, they can be used to make new plastic raw materials. Since PCR materials come from post-consumer products, if they are not properly handled, they will inevitably have the most direct impact on the environment. Therefore, PCR is one of the recycled plastics that are currently respected by various brands.
Many people may disagree and think that PCR is another way of saying that it is back material! This is a bit limiting.
PCR (Post Consumer Recycling), that is, post-consumer plastics, mainly comes from the plastics extracted from the secondary recycling of daily chemicals, electrical appliances, and automobiles after our daily consumption. The “return material” we often deal with before is actually called PIR, Post Industrial Resin. The source is generally the nozzle, secondary brand, defective products, etc. generated when the factory injection molding products, which is directly recovered from the factory and reused.
What is the difference between the two? Obviously, the volume of PCR used for daily consumption is much higher than that of PIR. If the plastics that complete the consumption life are not recycled, it will bring huge pollution every year. Therefore, PCR recycling of plastics solves this problem very well. At the same time, many policies that are beneficial to PCR plastics have been introduced one after another: for example, the British Tax and Customs issued a “plastic packaging tax”, and the packaging tax rate of less than 30% recycled plastics is 200 pounds per ton. In China, all large enterprises have to fulfill the social responsibilities issued by the local government, which makes domestic and foreign brands increase their efforts to select PCR plastics.
This is why it is important to use PCR materials and brands’ selection of PCR materials
PCR key criteria:
1. Socially sustainable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using renewable resources
2. Environmentally sustainable, environmentally responsible production to protect soil, water and air
3. Supply chain traceability, PCR definition, reference documents, certification principles, key requirements from ordering, procurement, production, warehousing and production line planning follow PCR regulatory standards, PCR logos and declarations
4. PCR management system, PCR manuals, procedures, training system management review, PCR data management
