Colouring PCR
April 2022 saw the introduction of a new plastic packaging tax. This means any packaging containing less than 30% PCR (post-consumer recycled) material will incur additional taxes. With brands increasingly turning to packaging with high PCR content, it’s vital to have a supplier with expertise in colouring recycled plastic. Broadway are well-versed in colouring PCR, our team deliver dozens of matches for PCR every week.
With the world focused on reducing plastic waste; brand owners, packaging technicians and moulders are increasingly seeking sustainable options. PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) materials offer an obvious and instant solution by utilising waste packaging – reprocessing it into usable materials for re-moulding. The introduction of the plastic packaging tax will only accelerate this trend. Broadway has been colouring PCR material for many years. Not only are we able to formulate colours for customers looking to increase their use of PCR, but we’re able to give helpful advice too. We can show first hand how the limitations will impact the end product by demonstrating this in our colour suite.
Brand owners will know how they’d like their products to look, unfortunately using high levels of PCR material poses limitations on which colours and effects can be successfully achieved. Improving sustainability should be a priority for us all. Consumers will increasingly accept and even embrace compromises on aesthetics if they realise the product is less harmful to the environment as a result. We encourage our customers to consider using PCR, or increase the level of PCR in their products wherever possible.
PCR material is typically tinted, so lighter, brighter and translucent colours are not always achievable. A good analogy would be washing your brush in a pot of water when using watercolour paints. As more colour is washed into the water, it becomes ‘muddy’. Once it loses its original clarity, it becomes impossible to make that water clear again or turn it into a bright colour. Using PCR is very similar in that the inherent tint of the base material will limit the effect the masterbatch can have when dosed into it. The other challenge is that recycled polymer will vary from batch to batch. So a colour which works with one batch of material, may need adjustments to the formula to give the same result when used with a different batch of PCR. If you’re considering increasing the use of PCR in your products, then please get in touch.
With its Community Trade recycled plastic initiative in place, The Body Shop turned to Broadway to lead the development of colour for their high PCR content bottles. The differing shades of each batch of recycled material present challenges to plastics colourists. These challenges are magnified when high levels of PCR material are used. Hosting customers on site means we can explore options for colouring and demonstrate first-hand how materials will look. Representatives from The Body Shop utilised Broadway’s on site colour suite to develop and approve colours with ease and efficiency. The main focus for their visit was their Ginger Shampoo bottle, which uses 100% PCR content, 15% of which is Community Trade Recycled.
Broadway also developed other colours, containing PCR materials, to support The Body Shop’s extensive product range. Our colour suite allows new colours or entire projects to be developed and approved within the day; saving time and money for customers such as The Body Shop. Our team can instantly demonstrate how colour is impacted by different levels of PCR content. This offers the perfect solution in response to the ever increasing demand for colouring PCR material. With access to our expert colourists, the latest testing equipment and our friendly team offering support each step of the way, our customers are in safe hands.
To discuss your project, contact our experts today!
