Both savvy shoppers and consumer packaged goods companies are placing more emphasis on sustainability, reducing waste, and using less energy. As a brand owner, your sustainability goals are more important now than ever, as consumers begin seeking out brands focused on the environment.
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When it comes to packaging, it’s no surprise that brands are looking for eco-friendly packaging. While recyclable or compostable packaging are the two most common types of sustainable packaging, there is a third choice gaining traction on the shelf – post consumer recycled (PCR) packaging.
Post-consumer recycled content, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, like aluminum, cardboard boxes, paper, and plastic bottles. These materials are typically collected by local recycling programs and shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted into bales, based on the material. The bales are then purchased and melted (or ground) into small pellets and molded into new items. The new PCR plastic material can then be used for a variety of finished products, including packaging.
Need it fast? We can help. Rollstock orders can ship in as little as 10 business days after artwork approval. Formed pouches in as little as 15!
Though PCR, recyclable, and compostable packaging are all sustainable packaging options, they each differ in the way that they are processed and what they can offer consumers.
PCR packaging is manufactured with film that is made from recycled materials. In general, PCR packaging, such as post consumer recycled plastic, cannot be recycled again since it’s already made from recycled materials. This allows brands to fulfill their sustainability goals, without relying on the consumer to recycle or compost the package after use.
A package is deemed recyclable when the materials can be processed and used again. Once the package enters the recycling stream, it is broken down into raw materials and sold to manufacturers. One potential downside of recyclable packaging is that the benefits are dependent on the consumer actually recycling the package, and knowing where to recycle the package.
Lastly, compostable packaging is packaging that breaks down completely in a compost site and leaves no toxic residue. In order for a plastic to be called compostable, it must biodegrade, or break down into carbon dioxide, water, or biomass at the same rate as cellulose (paper). One potential downside of compostable packaging is that not all consumers have access to industrial composting facilities.
While all eco-friendly packaging options are a step in the right direction for brands looking to be more sustainable, PCR packaging, in particular, has some benefits that are worth discussing.
In general, PCR films are a great packaging option for brands looking for eco-friendly flexible packaging, and can be developed into stand up pouches, lay flat pouches, and rollstock. These films can be used in most industries including confection, coffee, baked goods, snacks, pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, pet treats, and sports nutrition.
PCR packaging also matches the quality of regular flexible packaging. PCR film can offer the same level of protection, barrier performance, and strength as regular plastic film. You can rest assured knowing that PCR film will still block light, oxygen, and other gases from penetrating the package layer and getting into your product.
Lastly, and quite possibly the most obvious benefit, is that using PCR material can help your company reduce its carbon footprint, lessen its impact on landfills, and meet its overall sustainability goals.
The best part? PCR packaging is a great option for brands who want to offer a sustainable solution for consumers, with no requirements or actions needed on the consumer end, unlike recyclable and compostable packaging.
As you examine your company’s sustainability goals, consider partnering with a PCR packaging manufacturing. At ePac, we offer PCR pouches, rollstock, and lay-flat pouches in varying percentages, for any of your project’s custom flexible packaging needs. Our PCR film is FDA-compliant for direct food contact and can accommodate high-impact, photo-quality graphics. It’s just one of our sustainable flexible packaging services that we deliver for our customers. Ready to get started, or want to learn more? Call us today or request a quote and see how using PCR can help you meet your sustainability goals.
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Sustainability isn’t just a trend – it’s our responsibility. Not only is it the right thing to do, but we want to go about it as transparently as possible.
Throughout , we’re transitioning the housing of all our new products (and some of our best-selling products) to use 73-75% recycled materials. This will reduce plastic product housing CO₂ emissions by up to 67%. By transitioning our products from last year to incorporating 73-75% PCR materials, we saved an estimated 636 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Great news, right? But with the term “recycled plastics” becoming more and more common, we thought we’d use this post to focus on the ins and outs of recycled plastics, and what this term really means. What are they, why do we use them, and how are they better for Belkin than the alternatives? Read on for the answers to all your questions!
At Belkin, sustainability is fundamental to our organisation, which is why we’re continually improving the products you love (and new products you’ll love in the future) by integrating PCR plastics and other low-impact materials into them. But what do we mean by ‘PCR’, and why is it an important part of the bigger picture?
In the context of plastics, ‘PCR’ stands for ‘post-consumer recycled’. This means that when you’re ready to dispose of a product, instead of going to landfill, the plastic in the product is recycled into pellets. This allows it to be used again to make another product. In other words, PCR is plastic that’s made from plastic that already exists – although to make sure the plastic is still great quality after processing, the recycled pellets are often mixed with new (‘virgin’) plastic.
There’s another important concept at play here, and that’s what’s known as the circular economy. This is the idea of keeping materials in use for as long as possible. This decreases our need to constantly source virgin raw materials, while also designing waste out of the system. This ‘closes the loop’, diverting materials from landfill, giving them a new life so they can be used again. There’s a great animation from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that explains this in more detail.
The circular economy mirrors the natural world, where materials are building blocks that form part of a continual cycle in which living things grow, die and return to the earth to grow again into something new. Taking this idea and applying it to manufacturing, we can see that recycling is a key part of the circular economy.
To reduce our dependency on the world’s natural resources for products that get disposed of in a few years, we need to recycle them into new products. Along the way, that means finding ways to process materials so that they can be used for other things, while maintaining their original quality. Quality is important – a charger that easily breaks after regular use could end up as e-waste quite quickly. Products that are built to last can continue to be used for much longer.
The circular economy lies behind our decision to transition all our applicable products to PCR plastic, both new and existing, instead of simply making a new line of products from this material and continuing to use virgin plastic as usual. In doing so, we can better contribute to the circular economy and make a much bigger impact on reducing waste and emissions.
PCR plastic isn’t the only type of recycled material out there, so what about the others? Here’s a look at some of the top contenders.
With so many different types of recycled plastic to choose from, this raises a question…
We challenged ourselves to use an alternative plastic housing with the same look, feel and performance as our original products, while also reducing material consumption. But why have we chosen PCR over the other types of recycled plastic available?
First and foremost, transitioning to PCR plastic is the right thing to do. It also supports the circular economy by minimising the use of raw materials and repurposes waste that would otherwise go to landfill. It’s a better choice for the circular economy than PIR plastics, because PCR uses materials that you, the consumer, recycle, rather than simply recycling at the factory.
What’s more, the source of PCR plastic can be certified, so we know it’s authentic – meaning we know where it came from and what went in to making it. Its structural integrity is equivalent to virgin plastic, meaning there’s no comprise to the quality and performance you know and love from Belkin.
We’ve chosen to use up to 75% (and not 100%) PCR plastic in our products because we didn’t want to compromise our quality requirements. We’re always looking to find the highest % of PCR plastic for our products and are on the way to incorporating a higher %. This way, we can ensure we’re still making a product that lasts to keep our products in use for as long as possible.
Of course, the products themselves are only part of the picture – the packaging they come in makes a big difference too. We’ve been actively reducing the level of plastic in our packaging for some time, eliminating it by 100% single use plastic in our latest products.
Our packaging uses Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. This certification ensures the paper is sourced from forests that promote environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. This commitment not only enhances the circular nature of our packaging, but also plays a vital role in protecting the long-term health of the world’s forests.
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to recycle your old Belkin products. They can contain valuable, salvageable materials, including aluminium, copper and precious metals, all of which can be used again in other products.
Our E-waste Recycling Program is a free recycling program available throughout the United States, and it ensures that your Belkin products can be recycled in such a way that nothing goes to landfill. You can get started here. In other regions, we pay to support recycling programs in which the local municipality recycles e-waste on our behalf.
When it comes to recycling the packaging that your Belkin products come in, we’ve noted that we’re on a journey to plastic-free packaging and are now using paper certified by the FSC. Paper is one of the most recycled materials worldwide, so this means you’ll be able to put our packaging in with your normal household recycling.
Let’s end this look at PCR plastics by answering some of our most frequently asked questions on this fascinating subject.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website recycled abs plastic granules for sale.