A truly circular economy keeps products and materials in the economy and out of the environment as waste as much as possible, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Embracing circularity will go a long way toward sustainability goals because the entire lifecycle of a product is being considered – including where the product is likely to end up.
Resin-based products like restaurant containers have long been considered single-use and disposable. As a result, recycling networks still have some way to go before ambitious sustainability targets are met. While there is no single solution to tackle the amount of consumer products that end up in landfills, when they could instead be reused, the answer arguably starts with how materials are produced in the first place.
Brands should strongly consider embracing recycled, as opposed to virgin resins when choosing packaging products. Below, we answer a few common questions.
What are recycled resins?
Recycled resins are generally categorized as either post-consumer recycled resins (PCR resins) or post-industrial recycled resins (PIR resins). They are made up of materials derived from previously used consumer products or industrial and manufacturing processes, respectively. The recycled resins are collected, sorted, cleaned, and then reprocessed for a new life as a different product.
Exact processes vary between manufacturers, but RAPAC has established an in-house recycling and densifier program at our plant in West Tennessee. Scrap polystyrene from residences and businesses all over the United States is shipped to us and reproduced into high-quality loose or void-fill and drainage beads, as well as expandable or non-expandable general purpose polystyrene products.
How do recycled resins support or promote circularity?
Put simply, virgin resins are more taxing on the environment. Making them requires using natural resources like oil, gas and/or water continuously.
Research shows that virgin resin production levels have become unsustainable for the earth over time, with detrimental effects. While many brands reconsider their relationship with fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency estimates that the production of virgin plastic polymers will become the planet’s biggest driver of oil and gas use in the near future.
Recycled resins aren’t a silver bullet, but they can cut down on the number of virgin resins needed, turning instead to existing materials that are perfectly suitable for reuse, and capable of making good, high-quality products.
Does it matter which product line our company chooses?
Some have argued that PCR resins are of less quality than virgin resins. By itself, this statement is not true. Recycled resins can alter and improve physical performance in ways that would be better suited for the end goal of the desired product. Our portfolio provides versatility and sustainability for almost any application, and we regularly counsel customers on the best options for their needs.
And remember, which resin producer you partner with does make an overall quality difference. You will want to work with someone whose processes and standards are recognized through markers like the Global Recycle Standard, or GRS, certification. You also need to know about a company’s design process, and how products are developed to maintain efficiency throughout their life cycle. Our own EcoSix products, for instance, can be used in products again and again – part of a truly circular economy.
We’re here to help you
If you’re ready to make the transition to recycled resins, we would be happy to help guide you through any questions about cost, quality, product specifications, sustainability goals, and much more. Reach out to our team today.