PCR packaging is packaging made from post-consumer recycled resin — plastic recovered from used products, cleaned, and reprocessed into new material. It reduces reliance on virgin plastic and diverts waste from landfills. Common PCR materials include rPET, rHDPE, and rPP. Evergreen offers PCR across all its plastic packaging products, plus ocean-bound plastic in select categories.

When manufactured with the right ratio of recycled to virgin resin, PCR packaging matches conventional plastic on strength, durability, and barrier performance. The most common tradeoff is cosmetic — recycled content can introduce slight color variation or haze. Evergreen's PCR is engineered for high clarity even at 100% recycled content, so brands can hit their highest recycled-content targets without sacrificing shelf appearance.

PCR packaging can contain 25% to 100% post-consumer recycled content, with the safe maximum set by each component's appearance and mechanical demands. Rigid parts like bottles and jars often reach 100%, while high-flex features such as flip-top cap hinges may need less to avoid becoming brittle. Evergreen advises the right PCR percentage per component so recycled content never compromises function.

PCR resin can be used across a wide range of plastic packaging, including bottles, jars, closures, tubes, pumps, and sprayers. Suitability depends on the component and recycled material — PET, HDPE, PP, PE, and ABS are all available in recycled grades. Evergreen produces PCR bottles, jars, sticks, closures, tubes, pumps, and sprayers, plus ocean-bound plastic in select categories.

PCR packaging can be food-safe when the recycled content is properly qualified for food contact. One route is food-grade PCR from an FDA-accepted decontamination process, typically recycled PET or HDPE. Another is multilayer construction, where virgin food-grade resin forms the product-contact layer while PCR fills the outer layers — common in tubes and bottles. Evergreen engineers both approaches and documents food-contact suitability.

PCR packaging typically costs more than virgin plastic, not less, because collecting, sorting, cleaning, and processing used plastics into usable material is labor- and energy-intensive. Prices also fluctuate with recycled feedstock availability, which currently lags demand in many categories. Evergreen purchases PCR resin from a qualified list of global suppliers to secure consistent quality and supply, helping brands manage cost and availability risk.

Brands can verify PCR content through third-party documentation such as Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification, which validates recycled content and chain of custody. Technical data sheets (TDS) and safety data sheets (SDS/MSDS) provide additional material and safety confirmation. This documentation supports accurate on-pack recycled-content claims and regulatory compliance. Evergreen provides GRS, MSDS, and TDS documentation upon request for its PCR products.

PCR packaging is tested through raw material verification, dimensional and structural checks, and performance testing — drop, top-load, and stress-crack resistance — to confirm recycled content doesn't reduce durability. Consistent incoming resin quality is critical with recycled feedstock. Evergreen sources PCR resin from a qualified list of global suppliers for raw material stability, and all facilities running PCR products are ISO 9001 certified.