Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic PCR Resin
What is it? 'Post consumer' refers to a material that has been previously used by consumers and then recycled for use in a new product.
'Paper, plastic, steel, and rubber are among the postconsumer discards that get recycled into such things as insulation, park benches, carpets,
and napkins. Buying products made of PCR content salvages material that would otherwise end up in a landfill and puts it to good use, while saving "virgin" resources.' According to blueegg.com an e-media company that celebrates sustainable living.
What are the benefits to the environment?
Plastics when created from scratch are petroleum based and therefore use valuable fossil fuel resources. They do not biodegrade and so cause a tremendous burden on the environment. We all know that recycling will help the environment. Post-consumer recycled plastic is made from products that would otherwise go to landfill sites.
What will be made from PCR?
Pacific Direct will make bottles for the Aveda hotel guest amenities collection and Eco Boutique, currently in development and pictured above, from post-consumer recycled plastic. This 'high density polyethylene' (HDPE) plastic will be collected from recycling schemes across the UK. It will be cleaned, pelletized (made into granular form) and then shipped to our Czech factory.
Czech will be monitoring to see if they can obtain a source of recycled HDPE closer to home to reduce the carbon footprint. Bottles can be made from 100% or less PCR, but some colour is retained in the plastic from it's previous incarnation.
Will it be safe for toiletries?
All packaging will be processed at 200ºC to kill any micro-organisms and ensure plastics are safe. Compatibility and stability testing of our toiletries are a standard part of the process when any new bottle is used
Our UK supplier certifies that the HDPE materials are suitable for contact with food, this ensures the absolute safety of products is guaranteed.
Furthermore, each batch is tested to guarantee continued protection.
How does the cost compare?
Previously the cost has been slightly higher than 'virgin' HDPE plastic - because of the need to sort, clean and process the recycled bottles. But as the costs of petroleum-based raw materials increase, overall PCR plastic is becoming more competitive. More and more local government recycling schemes are being promoted, making it easier and more convenient for consumers to recycle and in turn making PCR plastics more easily and cheaply sourced.
