Joe Maynard, Spectra’s Managing Director, hailed the launch of PCR10 as a pivotal moment in the UK convertor’s quest to reduce virgin materials in their product offerings. He commented,
“We are hugely proud of the efforts recently made by everyone in the business to ensure this important initiative came to fruition in the planned timescale. This is another massively proud moment in the company’s history as we look to back up our environmental ethos with genuine action. Making such a bold material switch-over has understandably proved a huge task for our busy development experts, with our standard sample stock now updated”.
Although the addition of 10% PCR is now standard practice in all Spectra’s bottle manufacturing, the company will honour any customer requests to continue using 100% virgin products if they so wish, as Joe went on to explain.
“It has always been our desire to introduce an element of recycled content in our bottles in a bid to counter the amount of prime materials used. We will be achieving this without compromising results, without affecting existing specifications and without passing any extra cost on to the customer. However, we totally respect that some customers may not feel the time is right for them to come on board. This is why we have ensured customers can opt out of the scheme if they so wish”.
Spectra’s long term desire is to see Post Consumer Recycled content embraced by all customers in the future, which is why the company has put in place strong and robust supply chains to ensure that desire is backed up.
It is generally felt that feedstocks of recycled materials will undoubtedly come under pressure as brands to react to increased customer awareness and media coverage concerning the environmental impact of plastics. For that reason, Spectra has carefully fostered trusted relationships with recycled material suppliers to meet any potential demand.
Whenever possible, Spectra prefer to work with domestic suppliers in order to minimise carbon footprint and reuse waste that is generated in the UK. Tracing the honesty and integrity of the materials is also a hugely important consideration for the company.
Commonly made from single-use packaging such as milk containers and drinks bottles, PCR production begins with the collection and sorting of such plastics in commercial and residential recycling programs. Gathering such items ensures they can be reused and not sent to landfill sites. Once collected, the discarded plastics are ground, washed, dried and pelletised ready to be used again.
Although the PCR10 scheme will see 10% added to all products, Spectra can provide post consumer recycled materials in a variety of strengths, from 10% all the way up to 100%. The company’s expert staff are also on hand to provide advice and material suitability guidance for customers wishing to increase levels of PCR in their product packaging.
Joe concluded,
“In our view, the environmental benefits of using recycled content cannot be underestimated. Because PCR reuses conventional fossil fuel-based plastics, the recycling of these materials into new packaging doesn’t require any further depletion of fossil fuels”.
For customers wishing to find out more about PCR10 or any of the other sustainable materials on offer, please contact our experts on +44 (0)1986 834190.
