Swimming Against the (Plastic) Tide

With the Help of Post-Consumer Recyclates

We chose plastic instead of glass as the packaging material for our cleaners. Surprising for a sustainable brand, right? Actually, not! And we’ll explain why.

Our plastic is not just any plastic. It is recycled, meaning it’s not freshly made from crude oil. We use what is already in circulation — and can be returned to the cycle again after use. This is called Post-Consumer Recyclate (PCR) and makes up 100% of our bottles.

We rely on plastic because higher weight also causes higher emissions during transport. From production and filling all the way to you. Glass bottles weigh more than their plastic counterparts. To keep our CO2 footprint as small as possible and plastic usage minimal, we use only as much material as truly necessary for functional packaging.

Reused Plastic: Post-Consumer Recyclates and More

Post-Consumer Recyclates are obtained from end-consumer waste. What you, for example, throw into your recycling bin at home is fed back into the cycle and prepared for reuse.

If the plastic is reused during the manufacturing process of the product, it is called PIR, Post-Industrial Recycled Material. These are scraps generated during production and separated from the waste stream. They are blended with new primary material and reused.

When the material is made entirely from manufacturing leftovers and reused within the same process, it is called In-Process Recycled Material (IPR). For example, when plastic film is cut into packaging, the cut-off scraps are collected and reused as raw material for the packaging being produced.

Some environmentalists don’t consider recycled material used in manufacturing — PIR & IPR — as true reuse. They argue that material present during production should be used sensibly and sustainably by default. That should be the foundation for environmentally conscious and efficient corporate behavior. Because PIR & IPR require previously produced plastic (and thus crude oil) as the base raw material. Also, production consumes more energy than recycled plastic used again for packaging.

We want to reuse the plastic that already exists and give it a new purpose. Also, the impact we can have on the waste stream this way is much greater.

Side fact: There is an EU regulation on packaging and packaging waste as part of the European Green Deal. It aims to increase the recycling rate of packaging. It mandates that this rate should reach up to 35% by 2030 and up to 65% by 2040. With 99% recycled plastic in our bottles, we are well above the required values. Additionally, packaging is supposed to be further minimized, easy to separate, and clearly standardized in the future to reduce total waste and support reuse.

From Old to New – How PCR is Made

Post-Consumer Recyclates come from what you throw in your recycling bin. These wastes are first collected and sorted by plastic type: PP, PE, and PS. Separately, they are shredded, cleaned, and melted into granules. These small pellets are then used to manufacture new plastic products, shaped, and used — based on old plastic. By the way, recycled paper is also considered Post-Consumer Recyclate. The discarded material is sorted, processed into fiber, and then used to make new packaging — just like our plastic.

Our PCR consists of HDPE and PP — let’s take a look at what types of plastics these are:

HDPE, also known as High-Density Polyethylene, is a polyethylene (PE) plastic. It is considered very stable and durable and is long-lasting and resistant due to its manufacturing. Bacteria and dirt have a hard time sticking to polyethylene. It is seen as an environmentally friendly type of plastic because it melts easily and is therefore excellent for recycling. HDPE is often used for packaging material or protective films.

PP stands for Polypropylene, a plastic without plasticizers. It is harder, heat-resistant, and at the same time versatile in shaping. Therefore, it is one of the most commonly used plastics. It can be recycled well because special scanning systems can sort the material almost purely. Hence, the recycled material retains high quality. You encounter polypropylene in everyday items like yogurt cups, bottle caps, or thermal boxes.

Making it a Full Circle

Plastics are part of our everyday life and can no longer be imagined without them. Packaging, deposit bottles in supermarkets, and also parts of furniture or everyday objects contain plastic parts. However, plastic is derived from crude oil, a fossil resource whose extraction is associated with environmental and often human rights issues. Disposal also causes problems, think of plastic islands in the ocean. Therefore, it is all the more important that plastic is used responsibly and its disposal is considered. By using Post-Consumer Recyclates, we ensure that the plastic in our packaging does not accumulate in the environment. We create a closed loop. Because our bottles can simply be thrown into the recycling bin and reused 100% from there.

Spotted: Post-Consumer Recyclates

You usually can’t tell what kind of plastic a product is made from at first glance. Often, you can find the corresponding symbol on the bottom of the packaging. For some products, it is also on the label.

With us, you can tell from the bottom stamp that our bottles are made of HDPE. There you will find the well-known triangular “recycling loop” and below it the type of plastic.

Advantages of PCR

• Reduces the use of new crude oil (important for climate protection)
• Less plastic waste
• Less CO2 emissions (due to shorter transport chains and the manufacturing process)
• Good product quality, similar to new plastic

One goal for all: The plastic cycle should be closed completely.