British packaging manufacturer Spectra Packaging reports an increase in customers using their Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials for their packaging. The company provides several environmental alternatives for brands seeking a sustainable outcome, with PCR orders growing rapidly. “We’ve witnessed impressive take up for our PCR materials as brand’s look to offer environmentally savvy consumers product packaging that helps make a difference”, states according to Gavin Chenery, Commercial Director at Spectra Packaging.

Minimising or replacing the use of virgin materials, PCR consists of recycled resins that could potentially end up in landfill sites. Available in both HDPE and PET, PCR provides a sustainable pack that can be recycled again. Furthermore, because PCR has already been processed originally from a fossil fuel to plastic, the reuse of that plastic into a new PCR bottle doesn’t require any further depletion of new fossil fuels, providing a closed loop packaging solution.

Recycled options are proving increasingly popular with brands because it’s an environmental strategy that the consumer understands. Additionally, the use of sustainable packaging is a compelling proposition for the growing number of brands making products using natural ingredients, the two are an ideal marriage”, adds Gavin Chenery.

The production of PCR begins with the collection and sorting of recycled plastics in commercial and residential recycling programs. The discarded plastics are ground, washed, dried and pelletized ready to be used again. The materials are then stringently monitored by Spectra to offer reassurance and traceability, something they regard as a key factor in the process.

We like using materials recycled in the UK, otherwise the process is pointless if we are increasing our carbon footprint by importing an environmental material from the other side of the world. We can track our recycled materials back to the local council waste depot in the UK who originally supply the materials and this gives us total traceability”, concludes Gavin.