The opportunities and challenges of using recycled polymers
As part of our wider sustainable goals and our efforts to promote a circular economy, Plastribution is proud to offer recycled materials as part of our portfolio.
Whilst recycled materials do offer the opportunity to lower your carbon footprint and achieve your environmental goals, they are not always the appropriate choice for a given application.
Recycled polymers are not suitable for use in some applications where highly consistent performance is required. This is particuarly true for applications that are safety critical.
In this case, please speak to us about other ways of reaching your sustainable goals whilst maintaining product quality and consistency.
In this case, please speak to us about other ways of reaching your sustainable goals whilst maintaining product quality and consistency.
Please see below some guidance and key considerations to maximise the opportunity, whilst minimising the risk of poor outcomes such as failed parts.
Broad Specifications
- Recycled polymers will inherently have a broader specification when compared to prime polymers.
- Decisions should be based on the specification provided, not the performance of an isolated sample.
- Variability between batches is likely and suitability for more demanding applications should be determined from multiple batches.
- Higher quality recycled polymers will typically have tighter controls over raw material feedstock, likely resulting in a more consistent finished product. Please contact us to discuss high quality recycled material options.
- There is an opportunity to decrease the variability of a materials specifications by using recyclate that is blended with prime polymers. To learn more, see our section on recycled materials with a proportion of prime
Limited approvals
- Recycled PE and PP are typically not suitable for food contact applications.
Potential Contamination
- Recycled polymer will be more likely to contain contamination than prime polymer.
- PIR (Post Industrial Recyclate) material should be “cleaner.”
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PCR (Post Consumer Recyclate) material is likely to contain small amounts of other polymers. This can cause visual defects, especially in thin sections and films.
- Odours are more likely when using recycled polymers
Processing Complications
- Recycled Polymers are more likely to experience variability in processing within a batch and between batches.
- You will likely need to make adjustments to your processing conditions compared to prime polymers. Our technical team will be happy to offer advice and support in this regard.
Recycled polymers with a proportion of prime
- Recycled polymers with prime content are a potential solution for applications that are more performance critical. They offer more consistent performance vs fully recycled alternatives. However, the environmental benefits are not as great.
- Remember, in packaging applications, you are allowed to utilise up to 70% of prime polymer before becoming liable for the UK Plastic Packaging Tax. See our article on the UK Plastic Packaging Tax to learn more
- Plastribution offer off-the-shelf solutions that blend prime with recycled materials. Please contact us to learn more.
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