PCR vs PIR - Packed With Innovation

What is the difference?

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The difference between PCR and PIR comes down to the source of the waste material which is recycled and used to make new plastic products.

PCR stands for post-consumer recycled. PCR resins are made from materials that have been used by the consumer and then discarded.

PIR stands for post-industrial recycled. PIR resins are made from the waste generated during the manufacturing process rather than from a product than has been consumed.

What are the advantages of PCR?

• Using PCR plastic helps to divert plastic waste away from landfills and reduce plastic pollution.
• Virgin plastic materials are made from the polymers found in crude oil. By using recycled resins, you are reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.
• Any packaging made from 30% PCR content is Plastic Packaging Tax compliant. This can help you save money as it allows you to avoid the charge of £200 per tonne which is levied on plastic packaging which falls below the 30% recycled content threshold.
• PCR plastics help contribute to a truly circular economy.

What are the disadvantages of PCR?

• The quality of PCR plastics can vary significantly depending on the source materials and the recycling process used. Inconsistent quality makes it challenging to predict and control the performance of recycled plastic products.
• The recycling process can result in colour variations and aesthetic imperfections in PCR plastics.
• PCR resins often have inferior mechanical properties (e.g., strength, durability, and heat resistance) compared to virgin plastics. This can limit their suitability for certain high-performance applications.
• The PCR recycling process requires high tech equipment and is much more complicated than PIR recycling. This is because the flow of post-consumer plastics for recycling is much harder to control and there are many different types of plastic mixed together and they require extensive cleaning to prevent contamination.

What are the advantages of PIR?

• Using PIR reduces the demand for new raw materials and conserves natural resources.
• As with PCR, by using PIR you are helping divert plastic waste away from landfill and preventing plastic pollution.
• The flow of waste materials used to make PIR plastic is much easier to control that PCR. Because there is more control over the consistency of PIR feedstock, this means that PIR plastics tend to have a much higher quality and significantly better performance.
• It is commonly believed that PIR plastic packaging is not Plastic Packaging Tax compliant, however this is incorrect. Any plastic packaging with 30% PIR content falls the right side of the tax.
• The PIR recycling process is much cheaper and simpler than the PCR recycling process because there is more control over the raw materials.

What are the disadvantages of PIR?

• The supply of post-industrial recycled plastic can be limited and subject to fluctuations based on the availability of manufacturing waste.

It seen to be as sustainable as PCR plastics and post-consumer waste is the bigger problem which needs solving.

When it comes to recycling, you can often read the terms PIR and PCR. But do you know their meaning or even the difference between the two terms?

We have collected some information about the two terms and tell you what we are using for our products made of recycled matierals.

The company is the world’s best pcr resin suppliers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

The meaning of PIR

PIR stands for Post Industrial Recyclate. This is obtained from industrial waste that is generated as unmixed scrap during the production process. It can therefore be shredded and recycled without any major sorting or cleaning effort. This makes it particularly high-quality and many companies therefore prefer to use it.

However, there are also areas of application, such as food, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, in which the most stringent product safety and hygiene requirements apply and PIR can therefore only be used to a limited extent, if at all.

The meaning of PCR

PCR stands for post consumer recyclate. This recyclate is obtained from the waste of end consumers such as the yellow bag. However, end consumers also include commercial and industrial facilities or institutes that are end users of the product.

The waste from these sources is collected, sorted, shredded, washed and then melted into plastic granules. Since different types of plastic are mixed among these wastes, the quality varies and may fluctuate. Consequently, the processing into high-quality recyclate is also more demanding and requires state-of-the-art recycling and sorting facilities.

Our products made of PCR and PIR

Our AIRplus® 100% Recycled is made of post-consumer and post-industrial recycled material resulting in less plastic waste over all. We're the first manufacturer to produce an air pillow film consisting of 100% recycled material. The composition of the AIRplus® 100% Recycled film is unique to date.

Also our rEPS is made from 95% recycled post-consumer and post-industrial EPS waste and 5% additives. For rEPS we are the first manufacturer with a fully integrated production process for the new material with both the recycling and the production of rEPS beads taking place exclusively at our own locations.

To find out more about our products made of recycled materials, visit our website.

Want more information on recycled abs plastic granules? Feel free to contact us.