What is PCR(Post Consumer Recycled)?

Post-Consumer Recycled resin, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, such as plastic bottles (ex. beverage bottles, shampoo bottle, mineral water bottle, laundry detergent bottle), cardboard boxes, paper and aluminum.

These materials are usually collected by local recycling procedure then shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted into bales, based on the material.

The bales are then reprocessed into new PCR resin then molded into new finished products, including packaging.

Why we develop PCR packaging?

With the European Union's 2050 carbon neutrality goal, every country starts to join the trend of net zero and carbon reduction, and Taiwan is also participating in it. The Environmental Protection Agency hold a draft discussion meeting on " Promoting Recycled Plastic Products for Non-food Contact " in 2022, inviting manufacturers of cosmetics, detergent products and recycled materials to attend, and proposed the goal of adding at least 25% recycled content to packaging containers in 2025, then 35% in 2030. Together strive for the sustainable development, and the target of net zero carbon emissions.

Living Fountains also joins the Taiwan Renewable Energy Initiative, promoted by the Greenpeace Foundation. With the spirit of the RE100, this plan invites companies to develop and use renewable energy from now on, furthermore, promoting those manufacturers who had been using PCR material to produce green packaging.

Plastic is light and durable, and can be used in various daily necessities packaging, like household appliances, medical supplies, etc. It is everywhere in daily life.

However, due to its cheap and easy-to-obtain characteristics, people abuse and discard them at will, which in turn causes plastics to be equated with environmental pollution and become a stigma. Then, there are many environmental protection policies banning plastics, and people turn to use other less environmentally friendly products like paper product.

Instead of avoiding plastic, it is more important to choose good plastic materials and use high-quality plastic products. We should implement repeating use, prolonging the use of plastic, recycling, and let them enter the recycling system again.

With the promotion of PCR, we lead industry partners to participate in the chain of recycling green plastic, and carry out plastic justice transformation, bringing new awareness of green plastic to the public.

What does PCR plastic include?

Common plastic materials like PET, PP, PE, can be recycled after consumers used, they are then made into recycled plastic resin.

How are these things recycled?

The used plastic container collected from shopping malls, communities, school, and other regional agency, and then shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted and compressed into bricks based on materials.

How does recycled plastic become PCR material?

rPP, rPE: Used PP and PE containers are collected by recycling programs then go into remanufacturing process. The steps are as follows:

1. Unpacking: Plastic products will be compressed and packed before being sent to the recycling plant, so after sending to the recycling plant, they will firstly be unpacked.

2. De-labeling: remove the labels on the recycled products through the machine.

3. Crushing: Crushing the recyclables into large pieces.

4. Cleaning: Clean these large pieces.

5. Crushing: Break large pieces into smaller pieces.

6. Floating: remove impurities from small pieces.

7. Dehydration: Dry the small pieces.

8. Granulation: Granulate, filter, and remove impurities.

9. Recycled plastic resin: secondary plastic raw materials are made after granulation

rPET : Used PET containers are collected by recycling programs then go into remanufacturing process. The steps are as follows:

1. Unpacking: Plastic products will be compressed and packed before being sent to the recycling plant, so after sending to the recycling plant, they will firstly be unpacked.

2. De-labeling: remove the labels on the recycled products through the machine.

3. Crushing: Crushing the recyclables into large pieces.

4. Cleaning: Clean these large pieces.

5. Crushing: Break large pieces into smaller pieces.

6. Floating: remove impurities from small pieces.

7. Dehydration: Dry the small pieces.

8. Recycled plastic material: secondary plastic materials are made, then deliver to factory to produce.

What are the characteristics of PCR plastic products?

・The color of the bottle/accessories is more yellowish or darker.

・There is small black spots on the surface of the bottle/accessories.

・Strength is slightly weaker than new material, but it does not affect function.

・The recycling symbol remains the same, and the application to food-grade packaging must be approved before using.

What is the application of PCR plastic?

PET is one of the most produced, used plastics, and recycled plastics.

After consumers using PET material, the manufacturers recycle, clean, separate, slice, and spin these PET, and finally convert into meltable rPET materials for remanufacturing into packaging, clothes, shoes, and other textiles. It is a relatively cheap, clean, and low chemical material.

The Food and Drug Administration of the Taiwan takes standards of advanced countries such as the United States and the European Union for sample. In May 2022, it announced the "Operation Process for the Suitability Application of RPET Packaging ". The brand can submit the safety assessment application to the authorities, after the review is passed, brand can use rPET materials to produce food containers and packaging.

Using rPET can not only keep plastics away from oceans and garbage mountains, but also reduce the consumption of energy and oil resources, as well as reduce carbon dioxide emissions, bringing more possibilities and potentials for sustainable recycling.

Other recycled materials such as r-PP and r-PE can also be used in dispensing pump or bottles like face, body cleaning and detergent products. Many well-known brands, such as P&G, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Kao and O'right have chosen recycled materials.

What PCR packaging does Living Fountain can provide?

Living Fountain commits to promote recycled green plastic packaging. We provide PCR products making, solutions and give clients professional advice and consultation. We use PCR recycled materials to produce ideal household, personal, cleaning, and food packaging. At the meantime, taking quality and earth-friendliness into consideration. If you also care about environmental sustainability and are interested in PCR recycled green plastic packaging, welcome your inquiry.

rPET