Meaning
Plastic resin derived from household or commercial waste that has been used and discarded by the end consumer. Using post consumer recycled polyolefin helps close the loop in the circular economy by repurposing materials like milk jugs and detergent bottles.
Sourcing Challenge
The quality of post consumer recycled polyolefin depends heavily on the efficiency of the sorting and washing processes. Contaminants like paper labels, adhesives, and different polymer types can affect the mechanical properties of the final part. Moulders often blend this material with virgin resin to achieve the necessary performance.
Processing Variable
Recycled resins often have a wider melt flow index distribution than virgin grades. Adjusting the process for post consumer recycled polyolefin requires careful monitoring of the melt pressure and temperature to avoid defects like gels or silver streaks. Filtration systems must be robust enough to handle higher levels of solid impurities.
Economic Impact
The price of this material is influenced by the cost of waste collection and the fluctuating price of virgin resin. While post consumer recycled polyolefin can reduce packaging taxes, the increased risk of part failure or aesthetic issues must be managed. High-quality sorted streams command a significant premium in the market.