8 FAQS About Post Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR Resin)

13 Jan.,2025

 

8 FAQS About Post Consumer Recycled Resin (PCR Resin)

Post consumer recycled (PCR) resin is the recycled product of waste created by consumers. Before the plastic waste is turned into resin, the plastic materials are gathered and sent through a proprietary process to produce plastic resin pellets.

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Businesses that use PCR resins in their products enjoy countless benefits, including increased profits, cost savings, and improved brand image. Even so, there's still a significant amount of confusion surrounding PCR resins.

The following information addresses some of the most frequently asked questions about PCR resins, LDPE resins, and polyethylene PCR resins. Continue reading to learn more.

Do PCR Resins Have Positive Environmental Benefits?

Virgin post-consumer resins such as LDPE resin and polyethylene were originally processed from fossil fuels and turned into plastics. When these PCR resins are reused and transformed into new products, new fossil fuels are not required, which has exponential environmental implications.

According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency, recycled plastics account for far less environmental impact than their virgin counterparts. As a matter of fact, many studies suggest  recycled plastics contain over 25% less green house/carbon gas emissions than virgin resins.

The more PCR resins you include in your products, the higher impact you can make on saving the environment. If you're looking to see what reduction in greenhouse gasses your company can boast about, make sure to ask an expert at AAA Polymer about using PCR LDPE and PCR polyethylene resins.  

How Does the Price of PCR Resin Compare to Virgin Resin?

In the past, the cost of post consumer resin has been a bit higher than new virgin resins. This can be attributed to the extensive cleaning, sorting, and processing required to recapture the recycled resins.

As the overall cost of petroleum-based raw materials continually increases &#; however &#; the cost of PCR resins are projected to stay the same. In addition, when more consumers recycle plastics, the law of supply and demand will keep PCR resins extremely attractive in comparison to virgin resins.

What Are the Drawbacks to PCR Resin?

The most common complaints around PCR resins are occasional black flecks, grey/yellow tinting, and gels in the material. Even so, when used in the correct application such as ag films or trash bags, these minor defects do not affect the overall function of the product and are strictly cosmetic. While PCR resins may be subject to slight variations in color, this can be overcome by choosing a reliable provider.  


In either case, an occasional cosmetic color variation is a small price to pay for the environmental impact of using these more eco-friendly products. When marketed properly, your customers may be willing to pay more for those imperfections &#; knowing your organization is making steps toward environmental sustainability.

Will Consumers Actually Pay More for PCR Resin Products?

As a matter of fact, they will. According to a Nielsen global online study, a surprising 51% of Baby Boomers between the ages of 50 and 64 and 72% of those aged between 15 and 20 &#; Generation Z&#; will pay more for products and services from companies committed to making a positive environmental impact. Simply put, your environmental investment can and will pay off as long as you properly market your efforts.

How Can a Company Be Sure They're Using 100% PCR Resins?

One of the surest ways for a manufacturer to know they're using 100% post consumer resins is by looking for the International Code Council (ICC) certification. This member-focused association has over 64,000 members who are dedicated to creating model codes for sustainable solutions. Recently, Trex Cardinal® and Trex Spartan® lines of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) pellets were certified by the ICC for being 100% post-consumer content material.

What Products Are Ideal for Trex LLDPE PCR Pellets?

Trex LLDPE pellets are the ideal material for manufacturers looking to increase the cost efficiency of their products and increase the recycled content. These pellets are excellent for profile extrusion, molding, blown film applications, and in the production of plastic goods.

Other applications of Trex pellets include molded plastic recycling bins, trash bags, grocery carry out bags and speciality applications such as irrigation tubing. Trex LLDPE pellets allow manufacturers to promote a much more eco-friendly option to consumers and lower their overall materials cost.   

Why Would a Business Choose Trex LLDPE Pellets?

In many instances, manufacturers rely on several different sources for plastic pellets. This typically results in widely varying product characteristics, such as the previously mentioned black specks and yellowing, and unpredictable quantities.  

As an AAA Polymer partner, Trex is one of the nation's largest plastic recyclers. They're able to deliver consistent quality and the quantities manufacturers need at a significantly lower price. Best of all, you'll have the convenience of working with a single-source provider.

Does California Require Retailers Use PCR Resin?

In August of , California became the first state in the U.S. to pass legislation imposing a state ban on single-use plastic bags at retail stores. This legislation - Proposition 67 - was approved by a resounding 53% of California voters.

These reusable plastic bags are required to have a minimum of 20% PCR material, which is set to increase to 40% by January 1, . The bags must be able to carry a minimum of 22 pounds for at least 125 uses for a distance of 175 feet. The bags must be at least 2.25 mils in thickness.

Contact AAA Polymer for Trex PCR Pellets

Whether you're looking to save money on manufacturing materials or looking to implement a closed loop recycling program, AAA Polymer can help. Since , we've been providing cutting-edge recycling programs and solutions to business owners throughout the United States. Best of all, you can find Trex LLDPE pellets and reliable PCR resins from many other leading recyclers in the nation.

Contact AAA Polymer today.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of pcr plastic pros and cons. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Top 7 Benefits of Post Consumer Recycled Resin

As the world changes, we need to change with it. With the global effort to go green, companies strive more to choose sustainable resources and provide environmentally friendly products to their consumers.

While some may be inclined to move away from plastic packaging in an effort to go green, that old way of thinking is actually counterproductive in today&#;s market. Even though the end goal of a greener world is a good one, trying to go plastic-free diminishes the many advantages that plastics offer. Instead, companies should be focused not on if they are using plastics or not, but instead what type of plastics they are using.

That&#;s where recycled plastic comes in. By using post consumer recycled resins (PCR) over virgin resins, companies can save on costs, increase profits, and improve relations with their customers.

Here are the top reasons to choose PCR over virgin plastics or other packaging materials:

1. A Reduced Carbon Footprint

Choosing more sustainable packaging materials reduces waste and lowers your carbon footprint by requiring fewer emissions than virgin plastics. As we strive for a more circular economy, PCR is the superior packaging material for the industries of the future.

2. All the Same Benefits of Normal Plastic

The reason that plastic became the go-to packaging material was because of its superior performance. Compared to other packaging alternatives like paper, cardboard, or even beeswax-coated fabrics, plastics offer a number of advantages, including:

  • Increased durability and product protection
  • Stronger, rip-resistant packaging
  • Greater water and weather resistance
  • Improved sterility for sanitary environments

With PCR, you can get all of the same benefits that you&#;re used to with plastic while still choosing a more sustainable option than non-recycled resins.

3. Better Customer Relations and Retention

Sometimes all you need is good marketing. With over 73% of consumers saying that they are going to make a consistent effort to choose more sustainable products, there&#;s no better time than now to make the switch to more consumer-friendly plastics. These customers are also more likely to continue choosing your brand and products in the future if you have a more eco-friendly message, allowing you to not only gain new customers, but to also keep the ones you already have.

4. Higher ROIs

While companies once took an economic hit by using PCR over virgin resins, times have changed. In fact, companies can now expect a far greater return on their investment by choosing recycled plastics instead of virgin ones. As the costs surrounding petroleum-based materials continue to rise, the cost of PCR is projected to stay the same. So, while other companies have to deal with rising prices for plastic, you can keep your costs steady and protect your bottom line.

5. Better Margins

Not only are people more likely to choose the sustainable option when picking from a sea of products, but you can also use greener packaging to help justify a higher price point. The majority of consumers are also willing to pay more for sustainable products over typical plastics, highlighting the potential for increased profits.

6. Long-Term Sustainability

In addition to the environmental sustainability of PCR, you can also achieve long-term economic growth and sustainability by choosing recycled materials over virgin resins. PCR will continue to be the better packing option over non-recycled plastics, both from an economic and branding perspective.

7. Regulatory Compliance

Every state and local government has its own rules and regulations surrounding packaging and recycled products. By offering a more sustainable option, PCR is more regulatory-friendly, allowing you to easily meet any ecological requirements put on your business by the government.

Making Recycling More Accessible 

In order to truly benefit from PCR, recycling plastics has to be accessible. Unfortunately,recycling rates forpolypropylene (PP), one of the most widely produced plastics, have been steadily decreasing as cities across the country scale back curbside recycling programs due to budget restraints. With theglobalpolypropylene market set toreach $192.33 billion by and countless tons of polypropylene productsproduced every year, not being able to recycle these valuable plastics would be a monumental loss.  

To help solve this problem and capitalize on the benefits of PCR,Braskem, the largest polyolefins producer in the Americas and one of MRP&#;s major suppliers, recently announced that they will play a founding role in the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition. As a new initiative of The Recycling Partnership,the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition will work to achieve the same high levels of recycling for polypropylene as other plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 

Along with other members of the coalition, Braskem will focus on increasing curbside recycling access for polypropylene by eliminating obstacles and offering attractive recycling incentives.The goal is to ensure that this critical packaging material is widely recovered and reused across all industrial and end-usermarkets, including food and beverage packaging, consumer products,medical tools and containers, and automotive parts. 

Braskem is committed tostrengthening the recycling and circularity of polypropylene, not just through a financial commitment, but also through the company&#;s technicalexperience and market knowledge.This expertise will helpdrive necessary improvements in the U.S. recycling infrastructure for recovering polypropylene and better utilizingpost-consumer recycled resins 

Better Plastics at MRP Solutions

Here at MRP Solutions, we know firsthand the benefits of using PCR. In fact, many of our packaging products are available in post-consumer recycled resin. This commitment to better materials allows us to provide superior packaging products to our customers in order to help them support their businesses.

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