As the demand for sustainable packaging continues to grow, brands and manufacturers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and reliance on virgin plastics. One of the most effective strategies is incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials into packaging. PCR materials have many sustainability benefits, reducing plastic waste, supporting a circular economy, and helping brands meet evolving eco-friendly packaging regulations.
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Though when it comes to food contact packaging, using PCR material presents unique challenges. Issues such as contamination risks, regulatory approvals, and material performance must be carefully managed to ensure both food safety compliance and sustainability. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of recycled content, the challenges of using PCR in food packaging, and the certifications required for food-safe recycled materials.
Understanding the different types of recycled plastic is essential for choosing the right material for food-grade packaging. There are four key variations of recycled plastic in packaging;
There are two main adopted methods of plastic recycling - mechanical and chemical. Each has their pros and cons, and plays a significant role in the application of PCR in food contact packaging.
Mechanical Recycling
The most common plastic recycling method, mechanical recycling involves washing, shredding, and reprocessing plastics into new materials. However, this method does not fully remove contaminants like inks, adhesives, and food residues, making it more challenging to use for food-contact applications unless strict food-grade recycling processes are followed.
Chemical Recycling
A newer technology, chemical recycling breaks plastics down to their molecular level, removing impurities and producing high-quality recycled plastic that can be used in food-safe packaging. Although more expensive and less widely available, this method is expected to play a significant role in the future of sustainable packaging.
While PCR packaging is a viable alternative, it has historically come with several challenges. Contamination is a primary concern, as residual chemicals, inks, and adhesives from previously used plastics must be completely removed to meet food safety standards.
Beyond contamination, PCR plastics can be harder to process due to their rough texture, making it challenging to achieve high-quality printing. Some recycled resins also tend to be weaker or more brittle than virgin plastic, which can impact packaging durability and machine efficiency.
However, despite these challenges, advancements in plastic recycling technologies are improving the usability and safety of food-grade PCR materials.
Contrary to popular belief, PCR materials can be certified as food-safe. The most commonly approved material for food-contact use is PCR PET, which is widely used for beverage bottles and food containers. HDPE also has strong food-contact approval, particularly in rigid packaging. PP is gaining recognition, while LDPE and LLDPE are newer entrants in food-safe PCR packaging, with mechanical recycling now enabling food-grade approvals in some cases.
To obtain food-contact certification, PCR materials must come from controlled recycling streams, undergo strict purification processes, and pass extensive food safety testing.
With global packaging regulations becoming stricter and consumer demand for sustainable products increasing, ensuring that food packaging is both eco-friendly and food-safe is crucial.
To ensure compliance with food safety standards, brands should look for recycled packaging materials that meet the following certifications:
At a high level, certifying PCR packaging materials involves rigorous migration testing to ensure that no harmful substances transfer from the packaging to food. Purity screening checks for residual contaminants, while process control audits verify that the recycling and manufacturing processes meet food safety compliance standards.
At Grounded, we source our PCR materials from certified recycling streams that meet the highest sustainability and food safety standards. Our materials hold Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and TÜV OK Recycled certifications, ensuring responsible collection and processing.
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To maintain food safety, we implement additional testing and strict quality controls, guaranteeing that our PCR flexible packaging meets international food contact standards. By prioritizing traceability and compliance, we help brands achieve their sustainability goals without compromising on food safety.
For brands looking to transition to sustainable food packaging, using certified food-safe PCR materials provides several advantages. It ensures regulatory compliance, builds consumer trust, and supports sustainable business practices. As more eco-conscious consumers demand plastic-free and recycled packaging, brands must adapt by investing in high-quality PCR solutions that align with both environmental and food safety standards.
With global sustainability regulations tightening, businesses that integrate food-safe recycled content into their packaging strategies will gain a competitive edge. By choosing certified PCR packaging, brands can drive sustainability leadership while delivering safe, high-quality products to consumers.
Read more about the latest in packaging regulations in the UK here and USA here.
Ready to explore PCR materials for your packaging? Contact our team today for more information.
Sustainability isn’t just a trend – it’s our responsibility. Not only is it the right thing to do, but we want to go about it as transparently as possible.
Throughout , we’re transitioning the housing of all our new products (and some of our best-selling products) to use 73-75% recycled materials. This will reduce plastic product housing CO₂ emissions by up to 67%. By transitioning our products from last year to incorporating 73-75% PCR materials, we saved an estimated 636 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. Great news, right? But with the term “recycled plastics” becoming more and more common, we thought we’d use this post to focus on the ins and outs of recycled plastics, and what this term really means. What are they, why do we use them, and how are they better for Belkin than the alternatives? Read on for the answers to all your questions!
At Belkin, sustainability is fundamental to our organisation, which is why we’re continually improving the products you love (and new products you’ll love in the future) by integrating PCR plastics and other low-impact materials into them. But what do we mean by ‘PCR’, and why is it an important part of the bigger picture?
In the context of plastics, ‘PCR’ stands for ‘post-consumer recycled’. This means that when you’re ready to dispose of a product, instead of going to landfill, the plastic in the product is recycled into pellets. This allows it to be used again to make another product. In other words, PCR is plastic that’s made from plastic that already exists – although to make sure the plastic is still great quality after processing, the recycled pellets are often mixed with new (‘virgin’) plastic.
There’s another important concept at play here, and that’s what’s known as the circular economy. This is the idea of keeping materials in use for as long as possible. This decreases our need to constantly source virgin raw materials, while also designing waste out of the system. This ‘closes the loop’, diverting materials from landfill, giving them a new life so they can be used again. There’s a great animation from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation that explains this in more detail.
The circular economy mirrors the natural world, where materials are building blocks that form part of a continual cycle in which living things grow, die and return to the earth to grow again into something new. Taking this idea and applying it to manufacturing, we can see that recycling is a key part of the circular economy.
To reduce our dependency on the world’s natural resources for products that get disposed of in a few years, we need to recycle them into new products. Along the way, that means finding ways to process materials so that they can be used for other things, while maintaining their original quality. Quality is important – a charger that easily breaks after regular use could end up as e-waste quite quickly. Products that are built to last can continue to be used for much longer.
The circular economy lies behind our decision to transition all our applicable products to PCR plastic, both new and existing, instead of simply making a new line of products from this material and continuing to use virgin plastic as usual. In doing so, we can better contribute to the circular economy and make a much bigger impact on reducing waste and emissions.
PCR plastic isn’t the only type of recycled material out there, so what about the others? Here’s a look at some of the top contenders.
With so many different types of recycled plastic to choose from, this raises a question…
We challenged ourselves to use an alternative plastic housing with the same look, feel and performance as our original products, while also reducing material consumption. But why have we chosen PCR over the other types of recycled plastic available?
First and foremost, transitioning to PCR plastic is the right thing to do. It also supports the circular economy by minimising the use of raw materials and repurposes waste that would otherwise go to landfill. It’s a better choice for the circular economy than PIR plastics, because PCR uses materials that you, the consumer, recycle, rather than simply recycling at the factory.
What’s more, the source of PCR plastic can be certified, so we know it’s authentic – meaning we know where it came from and what went in to making it. Its structural integrity is equivalent to virgin plastic, meaning there’s no comprise to the quality and performance you know and love from Belkin.
We’ve chosen to use up to 75% (and not 100%) PCR plastic in our products because we didn’t want to compromise our quality requirements. We’re always looking to find the highest % of PCR plastic for our products and are on the way to incorporating a higher %. This way, we can ensure we’re still making a product that lasts to keep our products in use for as long as possible.
Of course, the products themselves are only part of the picture – the packaging they come in makes a big difference too. We’ve been actively reducing the level of plastic in our packaging for some time, eliminating it by 100% single use plastic in our latest products.
Our packaging uses Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper. This certification ensures the paper is sourced from forests that promote environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. This commitment not only enhances the circular nature of our packaging, but also plays a vital role in protecting the long-term health of the world’s forests.
The good news is that it’s easier than ever to recycle your old Belkin products. They can contain valuable, salvageable materials, including aluminium, copper and precious metals, all of which can be used again in other products.
Our E-waste Recycling Program is a free recycling program available throughout the United States, and it ensures that your Belkin products can be recycled in such a way that nothing goes to landfill. You can get started here. In other regions, we pay to support recycling programs in which the local municipality recycles e-waste on our behalf.
When it comes to recycling the packaging that your Belkin products come in, we’ve noted that we’re on a journey to plastic-free packaging and are now using paper certified by the FSC. Paper is one of the most recycled materials worldwide, so this means you’ll be able to put our packaging in with your normal household recycling.
Let’s end this look at PCR plastics by answering some of our most frequently asked questions on this fascinating subject.
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