Post-consumer recycled plastic can be obtained from materials such as water bottles and others. However, post-consumer plastic may include plastics that have been gathered in residential as well as commercial recycling programs.  In addition, packaging products can be made up of eco-friendly materials which have growing popularity due to market players implementing green and sustainable packaging processes. Materials, as well as products sold across the consumer markets that have served their intended purpose and completed lifecycle, are ahead of the MRF (Material Recovery Facilities). On the other hand, packaging products are made of plastic materials that are recovered from material recovery facilities that contribute to the post-consumer recycled plastic packaging categories. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic is one of the most prominent materials that are being recycled. Thus, PET plastic is one of the most widely utilized and accepted types of plastic, owing to its easiness of recycling and it also can be recycled more than one time, hence it is increasing the demand for the post-consumer recycled plastic packaging market.

In addition, recycled products have a huge number of environmental benefits and they are being highly preferred by several manufacturers implementing sustainable principles. Moreover, the growing demand for packaging products produced with the help of recycled content has also boosted the growth of the post-consumer recycled plastic packaging market. PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) resin is a type of recycling plastic product from the waste material that is made by consumers. Enterprises that make use of PCR resins into their packaging products enjoy the huge number of benefits which may include cost savings, increased profits, as well as improving brand image.

Why recycling plastic is essential?

Plastics are lightweight, durable, as well as an inexpensive materials. It can be feasibly turned into number of products that find its usage in a large number of different applications. According to the research, each year, near around 100 ML tons of plastic is produced across the world. More than 200 BL pounds of new material of plastic is foamed, thermoformed, extruded and laminated in a large number of products and packages. Therefore, the recovery, recycling, and reuse of plastics is very significant.

What Types of Plastics can be Recycled?

There are six most significant plastic types can be recycled. Some typical products of plastics are listed below:

•          Polypropylene (PP):  It may include packaging of food containers, lunch boxes, and ice-cream containers.

•          Polystyrene (PS): It may comprise plastic cutlery, form hot drink cups, containers, as well as yogurt.

•          Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride or Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): It may include squeezes or juice bottles, and cordial.

•          Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): Bags as well as garbage bins.

•          Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): Soft drink bottles and fruit juice bottles.

•          High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): Milk bottles and shampoo containers.

These days PVC, FDPE, and PET plastics products can be reused along with their curbside programs. However, LDPE, PP, and PS are the types that are typically not recycled as this material of plastics get jammed in the sorting equipment across the recycling process. In addition to this, bottle tops and lids are the materials that cannot be recycled. However, PET is one of the most demanding packaging products due to its features such as durability and most affordable. Hence, it is mostly used in fibers for thermoforming for manufacturing, food containers, liquid, and clothing, as well as in the combination of glass fiber across the engineering resins. In the year 2016, it was anticipated that more than 56 ML tones of PET are generated. However, most of them are used in plastic bottles.

Environmental benefits of post-consumer recycled plastic packaging

•          Reduced Carbon Emission

Companies and customers are becoming growingly aware of their carbon footprint which is the total carbon dioxide released in the environment according to their result activities. In addition to this, post-consumer plastics packaging enables manufacturers to diminish their carbon footprint. However, the resulting product will be high-quality material. It also enables a huge range of post-consumer plastics to be utilized efficiently.

•          Microplastics

Microplastics are nothing but the tiny particles of the plastics. Thus, these parts size can differ from 5mm to 100nm that have found in the environment. However, they can able to seek their way into the waterways, oceans, as well as seas where they can be consumed by oceanic life. In addition to this, reusing and recycling plastics material can lessen the number of microplastics over the environment.

•          Raw material

Post-consumer plastics reduce the use of virgin plastics that is particularly significant as its recycling cost is decreasing. In addition to this, virgin plastics are produced from petroleum that is diminishing in availability. Moreover, post-consumer plastic material costs will be constant. However, there will be little difference between the cost of collecting, processing, washing, as well as sorting plastics. 

Challenges facing by the Recycling Industries

Plastic recycling industries are facing a huge number of challenges. It may be in the form of hard as well as plastics. In addition, the efficient and cost-efficient recycling of the mixed plastic stream is one of the major challenges that are facing the recycling companies across the world. However, the scheming of plastic packaging as well as other plastic materials along with recycling playing a substantial role in facing such challenges. Likewise, the recycling and recovery of post-consumer feasible packaging is a major recycling problem. Thus, the number of material recovery services, as well as local establishment, will not aggressively gather it owing to the lack of equipment available which can efficiently separate them.

Conclusion

There are huge numbers of benefits of using post-consumer plastics packaging. However, they are not only reducing the plastics that are dangerous to the environment but also helping manufacturing companies to diminish their carbon emission as well as reduce the necessity to use fossil fuels. In addition to this, post-consumer plastics packaging offers an opportunity for manufacturing companies to become more sustainable and it enables customers to make environment-conscious decisions.