Why switch to 30% PCR PET bottles?

Have you considered switching from traditional clear PET to 30% PCR PET bottles? Switching to post consumer PET bottles could make your product stand out and make your packaging exempt from a new tax. Cambrian Packaging has been expanding its range of Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) PET bottles so more stock items are available with at least 30% recycled content. As you may know, we’ve been offering customers our Ecycle™ range made from 100% recycled HDPE (rHDPE) since 2017, but with the introduction of the Plastic Packaging Tax in April, we have also been expanding our ZERO range of plastic bottles made from at least 30% PCR content. The tax applies to plastic packaging items produced in (or imported into) the UK that do not contain at least 30% recycled plastic. What are PCR PET bottles? Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) PET bottles are plastic bottles made from PET that has already been used and recycled. The recycled materials are formed into pellets or recycled feedstock, which can then be moulded into plastic resin or other items. When it comes to PCR PET bottles, the most common PCR plastics used come from clear drinks bottles. This type of plastic is really easy to recycle. Recycled PET is referred to as rPET. What are the main benefits of PCR PET bottles? Our range of clear PCR PET bottles are made from 70% PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) plastic and 30% rPET. They are especially popular for presenting household products and in the auto care industries due to their sleek, luxury finish. The PET material makes them fully recyclable and the PCR inclusion gives them zero Plastic Packaging Tax liability. PCR PET bottles tend to have a green tinge, which signals to consumers that it has been made with recycled content, increasing environmental credentials (find out more about the changing attitudes to colour in packaging here). More brands are using PCR packaging to help towards sustainability goals and limit plastic going into landfill. PET plastic is a good choice for solvent-based products due to its inherent resistance to most solvents. For caustic products, pH9 is the upper limit on using PET. Products of pH10 and greater should use HDPE bottles. We strongly recommend testing to establish compatibility, samples are available on request for this. Are PCR PET bottles more expensive than virgin plastic? Recycled polymer used in PCR packaging is more costly than standard virgin polymer due to the processes involved in its manufacture, so packaging made using this material usually carries a higher cost. However, the Plastic Packaging Tax applies to standard packaging containing no recycled material, so by using at least 30% PCR PET bottles, this will influence any cost difference. The anticipated increase in demand for PCR polymer is expected to have an impact on the longer-term cost and availability of this material. This is another reason why more investment is needed to boost recycling rates and therefore the amount of recyclate available. Reprocessing existing plastics can involve using less energy and fossil fuels. As consumers become increasingly environmentally aware, they are prepared to pay more for products produced in sustainable PCR packaging. What PCR PET bottles do we currently stock? 500ml Clear PET Spray Bottle, 30% PCR SKU: CA500FC-30 50ml Clear PET tall boston with 30% PCR SKU: RG50C-30 500ml Clear PET tubular bottle 30% PCR SKU: PC500C-30 1L Clear PET cylindrical bottle, 30% PCR SKU: PC1000C-30 500ml Clear Boston Round Bottle, 30% PCR (28/410 neck) SKU: ESB500BC-30 500ml Clear Tall Boston Round Bottle, 30% PCR (28/410 neck) SKU: BG500C-28-30 750ml Clear PET Spray Bottle, 30% PCR. SKU: AL750FC/28-30 We currently offer seven PCR PET bottles to choose from With our range expanding all the time. If you don’t see what you are looking for here, please contact our sales team on 01686 611360. The latest additions to our ZER0 range include the AL750FC/28-30 and CA500FC-30, two PCR PET bottles, which we have swapped to 30% PCR from 100% virgin PET. Where possible, we are continuing to swap firm favourites with at least 30% PCR content. The AL750FC/28-30 is a 750ml clear PCR PET spray bottle. This design benefits from hand grips and a large label area, as well as a 28/410 neck size, to suit a wide range of trigger spray heads. The larger size is also ideal for industrial cleaning products. The smaller, smoother CA500FC-30 is a 500ml clear PCR PET spray bottle. While the 28/410 screw neck can be used with screw-on trigger spray heads, other 28/410 closures are also compatible. This bottle is usually used for spray applied liquid products in a wide range of industries.

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