What is PCR(Post Consumer Recycled)?

Post-Consumer Recycled resin, often referred to as PCR, is material that is made from the items that consumers recycle every day, such as plastic bottles (ex. beverage bottles, shampoo bottle, mineral water bottle, laundry detergent bottle), cardboard boxes, paper and aluminum.

These materials are usually collected by local recycling procedure then shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted into bales, based on the material.

The bales are then reprocessed into new PCR resin then molded into new finished products, including packaging.

Why we develop PCR packaging?

With the European Union's 2050 carbon neutrality goal, every country starts to join the trend of net zero and carbon reduction, and Taiwan is also participating in it. The Environmental Protection Agency hold a draft discussion meeting on " Promoting Recycled Plastic Products for Non-food Contact " in 2022, inviting manufacturers of cosmetics, detergent products and recycled materials to attend, and proposed the goal of adding at least 25% recycled content to packaging containers in 2025, then 35% in 2030. Together strive for the sustainable development, and the target of net zero carbon emissions.

Living Fountains also joins the Taiwan Renewable Energy Initiative, promoted by the Greenpeace Foundation. With the spirit of the RE100, this plan invites companies to develop and use renewable energy from now on, furthermore, promoting those manufacturers who had been using PCR material to produce green packaging.

Plastic is light and durable, and can be used in various daily necessities packaging, like household appliances, medical supplies, etc. It is everywhere in daily life.

However, due to its cheap and easy-to-obtain characteristics, people abuse and discard them at will, which in turn causes plastics to be equated with environmental pollution and become a stigma. Then, there are many environmental protection policies banning plastics, and people turn to use other less environmentally friendly products like paper product.

Instead of avoiding plastic, it is more important to choose good plastic materials and use high-quality plastic products. We should implement repeating use, prolonging the use of plastic, recycling, and let them enter the recycling system again.

With the promotion of PCR, we lead industry partners to participate in the chain of recycling green plastic, and carry out plastic justice transformation, bringing new awareness of green plastic to the public.

What does PCR plastic include?

Common plastic materials like PET, PP, PE, can be recycled after consumers used, they are then made into recycled plastic resin.

How are these things recycled?

The used plastic container collected from shopping malls, communities, school, and other regional agency, and then shipped to recycling facilities to be sorted and compressed into bricks based on materials.

What are the characteristics of PCR plastic products?

・The color of the bottle/accessories is more yellowish or darker.

・There is small black spots on the surface of the bottle/accessories.

・Strength is slightly weaker than new material, but it does not affect function.

・The recycling symbol remains the same, and the application to food-grade packaging must be approved before using.