PCR Plastic Laminate PCR Plastic Laminate Pouchmakers 100% recycled LDPE film is made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) material. The carbon footprint is approximately half that of conventional plastic made from virgin fossil fuels. Not suitable for food contact. Compatible Style Stand Up Pouches Flat Bottom Bags Side Gusset Bags Spout Pouches Vacuum Bags Compatible Printing Technologies Rotogravure Digital Static Sticker (Label) Sustainability Properties Fossil fuel reduction Reduces the amount of virgin fossil fuel content Carbon reduction Reduces the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by production and delivery Recycled plastic Contains mostly recycled plastic content Recyclable plastic Recyclable in the plastic waste stream Nontoxic Inks Water or biobased inks than do not require petroleum-based solvents Considerations The Good?The Bad?The Good? Completely compostable (or biodegradable) in both home and industrial compost conditions. Does not break down into micro-plastic particles. The use of compostable materials in flexible packaging aids in the development of a functioning circular economic system. This is particularly important in flexible packaging as it is an area that is very challenging for mechanical recycling. The increased use of compostable materials creates market demand that will lead to the development of important composting infrastructure. Reduces reliance on fossil fuels and increases the use of renewable plant-based materials. Promoting the development of a composting waste stream also helps to address the problem of excess waste in the landfill (in the form of food scraps) which has a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The Bad? More expensive than traditional virgin plastic materials. A majority of compostable materials are hygroscopic, meaning they have a tendency to take on moisture. This means that they have a limited shelf-life for products with high moisture or oil content. Despite the exciting opportunity compostable films and laminates represent to develop a productive circular economy, current rates of composting are low. If compostable bioplastics end up in a landfill, over time they will generate methane, a greenhouse gas far worse for the environment than carbon dioxide. There is a lot of misinformation in relation to compostable materials and they lack universally-accepted labeling and certification standards. Certifications Global Recycled Standard Swisspac Packaging is certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which verifies recycled content and tracks it from the source to the final product. Frequently asked questions Can recycled products be recycled again? Yes they can. Swisspac’s recycled films and paperboard materials are recyclable. Recycled plastics are able to be recycled in either dedicated PE streams (#4) or via in-store collection systems such as Red Cycle. All recycled paper products are kerbside recyclable.