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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 for polypropylene (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 the global polypropylene market set to reach $192.33 billion by 2023 and countless tons of polypropylene products produced 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 Mold-Rite’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-user markets, including food and beverage packaging, consumer products, medical tools and containers, and automotive parts. 

Braskem is committed to strengthening the recycling and circularity of polypropylene, not just through a financial commitment, but also through the company’s technical experience and market knowledge. This expertise will help drive necessary improvements in the U.S. recycling infrastructure for recovering polypropylene and better utilizing post-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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Contact us today to learn more about how MRP Solutions can help you create your next great package.