PIR & PCR content explained
Post-industrial recycled (PIR) content and post-consumer recycled (PCR) content are two types of recycled materials commonly used in manufacturing. Post-industrial recycled content refers to materials recycled from manufacturing processes, such as excess materials or scraps repurposed into new products. This type of recycling must be clean and cannot include contaminants. On the other hand, post-consumer recycled content refers to materials recycled from consumer waste, such as plastic bottles or paper products that are collected and processed into new materials.
Both post-industrial and post-consumer recycled content offer environmental benefits by reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserving natural resources. Additionally, products made from recycled materials often have lower carbon footprints compared to products made from virgin materials.
Post-consumer recycled content is making its way into legislation in Europe, with the UK taking a proactive step by introducing a tax on plastic packaging that doesn't contain at least 30% recycled content (either PIR or PCR). This tax, which was rolled out in April 2022, aims to incentivise the use of recycled materials in manufacturing processes. The UK government has further increased the tax by over 5% in 2023, to show their commitment to reducing waste and conserving natural resources. This move towards incorporating PCR into legislation highlights the environmental benefits of using recycled materials, such as reducing waste and lowering carbon footprints.
At Primepac, we share this commitment to sustainability and are actively looking for ways to reduce the volume of resources we use and the amount of materials that end up in our landfills. We are proud to offer products that feature post-industrial recycled content, such as our Grip Film Eco pallet wrap, which contains 30% post-industrial recycled content. By choosing products with recycled content, we can all help protect the planet and its resources.
