Reimagining Recycled: How Pressure on Global PCR Supply Opens Doors for Alternatives

Each day, the average consumer is faced with the option to purchase countless ‘eco-conscious’ alternative products. Made popular in the early 2000s as the public’s climate science and plastic recycling awareness first boomed, many of these products are derived or packaged using post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, created using processed used paper and plastic waste.  

From an overarching perspective, this has been a hard-earned cultural shift in the long fight to preserve our changing climate and natural resources. 

But as PCR-based products have gained popularity in the market and their supply chains continue to evolve, it’s become apparent that they will not be the standalone solution to the world’s climate concerns. Data from the past few years shows us that the waning global supply of post-consumer recycled plastic material is the most critical obstacle.  

The not-so-great news? As this demand has grown and supply limitations remain, PCR resin costs in the flexible packaging industry have significantly risen, often exceeding the limited budgets of small to medium-sized businesses. We could spend a lifetime discussing the intricacies of the current delicate PCR supply chain - from curbside city collection efficiencies and sorting nuances, to state policy, to the overseas shipping and processing of recycled waste, but... 

The great news? The public’s demand for sustainably sourced recycled products is higher than ever, which is opening doors in the market for companies like Palouse Fiber Packaging to take pressure off the supply chain by create affordable alternatives that don’t rely on PCR at all.  

According to the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment (AMERIPEN), closing the supply-demand gap for packaging will require “investments in technology, targeted end-use strategies, and boosting consumer recycling rates”. 

In our long-term vision for the packaging industry, PFP and our likeminded partners can satisfy a significant portion of this gap by continuing to innovate with new technology, tapping rarely used alternative materials like wheat fiber to package the food and beverage products we all know and love.  

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Check out the infographic below and learn more about our new wheat-based cup carriers here!