Plastic has come to consumers’ attention in a big way recently. We see the images of plastic littering our beaches, oceans and seabeds. Consequently, consumers are trending toward products packaged with PCR packaging to offset our plastic issues.
Consider these figures:
- Each year, 63 pounds of plastic packaging, per person, ends up in a landfill.
- Plastics now account for 16 percent of all solid waste in this country.
- Making products from recycled materials takes 50 percent less energy than starting from scratch.
- It is estimated that it takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to degrade completely in a marine environment.
Consequently, more companies and producers of consumer goods are considering using reusable, renewable or recyclable packaging materials.
Reusing Our Current Resources
What we know is that, amid our current ocean pollution, there are resources that can be re-used to reduce the plastic waste problem. PCR, or Post Consumer Resin, is one way to do this. PCR packaging is one positive contribution that any company can make in their quest to reduce landfill waste, reduce their carbon footprint and support a circular economy.
What is PCR?
PCR is the industry term for recycled plastic. PCR packaging is typically packaging that is made with a percentage of this post-consumer plastic.
Although 100 percent PCR packaging is available, there are some downsides to it. Therefore, most manufacturers will produce a combination of PCR and other plastics to create packaging and containers that are both durable as well as more sustainable.
Is PCR More Expensive?
Although there are costs involved in the recycling process, producing plastics from non-renewable sources carry their own costs and economic impact. Consequently, many PCR containers, bottles and jars are available at the same price as their virgin plastic counterparts.
Is PCR a Good Option for Your Products?
Some of the main disadvantages of PCR packaging are color and clarity. The heating processes that go into manufacturing can produce a darker look. This can be balanced with color. Blue, black and amber containers are the traditional options when it comes to PCR options and have even become a way to brand your product. But if you are looking for packaging with crystal clarity, it may not be your best option.
Is PCR Good for Your Brand?
Consumer awareness has led to more people choosing sustainable packaging solutions over traditional. In fact, the environmental stance of a company is having more weight on their success with 70 percent of millennial consumers saying that this alone would factor into their decision to buy a product.
With today’s consumers trying to be more responsible citizens, they are expecting more of their consumer goods. PCR packaging has a reflection on a company’s corporate social responsibility and their initiatives to reduce pollution and their carbon footprint.
At APG, we offer PCR products in a full spectrum of sizes, shapes, colors and volumes as well as customized solutions for your needs. We welcome the opportunity to discuss what our PCR packaging can do for your products and your brand. Contact us today.