With all the talk about sustainability these days, recycled plastic packaging is quickly becoming more popular among businesses.
Using recycled plastic not only helps reduce waste but also lets companies meet growing requirements for eco-friendly materials. At A-Pac Manufacturing, we’re excited to be part of this movement by reusing resin to create high-quality recycled poly bags.
Let’s take a closer look at the process of producing recycled plastic packaging and how it’s paving the way for a more sustainable future in packaging.
What’s the Role of Resin in Poly Bag Production?
Resin is a broad term for liquid polymers derived from organic or synthetic sources. In plastic production, resins are essentially the building blocks that make plastic products strong, versatile, and suitable for a wide range of uses. Resin is the material that gives plastic bags their structure, durability, and flexibility.
In poly bag production, resin is melted down and formed into plastic film. The film is then shaped and sealed to create the bags we’re all familiar with. Without resin, plastic bags simply wouldn’t exist as we know them.
Types of Recycled Resin for Plastic Packaging:
When it comes to making recycled plastic packaging, different types of resin are available, each serving unique purposes:
- Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Resin: PCR resin is made from consumer-used and recycled plastic products—think of bottles, packaging, and other plastic goods that go through the recycling process.
- Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) Resin: PIR resin comes from plastic waste generated during the manufacturing process itself, such as trimmings, shavings, or excess material.
At A-Pac Manufacturing, we’re committed to using recycled resin whenever possible to help reduce environmental impact. We create poly bags that meet high-quality standards by reusing recycled resins while contributing to a more sustainable supply chain.
Digging Deeper into Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) Resin
We mentioned Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) resin earlier, but let’s take a closer look at what makes it a vital part of sustainable plastic production.
Unlike Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) resin, which comes from used plastic items recycled by consumers, PIR resin is derived directly from the manufacturing process. This includes leftover plastic materials like trimmings, shavings, and excess cuts that would otherwise go to waste.
These materials are collected, re-grounded, and reprocessed into new resin pellets for production reuse.
PIR resin has properties nearly identical to virgin resin, so it delivers the same quality and durability without sacrificing performance.
For manufacturers like A-Pac, PIR resin offers a sustainable and efficient way to reduce waste while producing top-notch recycled products.
How PIR Resin Recycling Works – From Waste to Pellet
Turning plastic waste into high-quality resin pellets involves a meticulous process known as mechanical recycling.
This method allows manufacturers to transform used or leftover plastic into a usable form, giving it new life in the form of durable recycled plastic packaging.
Let’s break down the three key steps in this process:
- Collection and Sorting – The process begins with collecting plastic waste generated during manufacturing, such as trimmings, shavings, and excess material. This waste is sorted by polymer type (like HDPE or LDPE) to ensure the recycled resin has consistent properties for various applications.
- Cleaning and Shredding – Once sorted, the plastic waste undergoes a rigorous cleaning process to remove contaminants like dirt, labels, or residues. After it’s thoroughly cleaned, the plastic is shredded into small flakes, making it easier to handle in the next steps.
- Melting and Pelletizing – The clean, shredded flakes are melted down and fed through a pelletizer machine. The pelletizer forms the melted plastic into small, uniform pellets, which are then cooled and hardened into resin pellets. These pellets are the raw material for producing new plastic products, including recycled packaging.
Quality control is essential throughout this process. By carefully managing each step—from sorting and cleaning to pelletizing—manufacturers like A-Pac ensure that the resulting recycled resin pellets meet high standards for consistency, strength, and durability.
The Benefits of Reusing PIR Resin for Plastic Packaging
Utilizing Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) resin in plastic packaging offers multiple benefits for the environment and for companies looking to meet sustainability goals. Here’s how:
- Reducing Waste and Resource Consumption – Manufacturers can repurpose plastic waste from production instead of letting it go to landfills. This minimizes waste and reduces the need for virgin plastic. It also conserves resources and lowers the environmental footprint of plastic packaging.
- Compliance with Regulatory Standards – Many countries have implemented regulations requiring a minimum of 30% recycled content in plastic packaging. By incorporating PIR resin into products, companies can meet these regulatory requirements and stay ahead of evolving standards for sustainable packaging.
- Maintaining High Quality – PIR resin performs similarly to virgin resin, ensuring that recycled plastic packaging meets the same quality standards as new plastic.
Through the use of PIR resin, manufacturers like A-Pac can help customers meet regulatory demands, reduce waste, and achieve sustainability objectives without sacrificing quality.
Choose A-Pac Manufacturing for Sustainable Packaging Solutions
If you’re looking for eco-friendly packaging solutions, consider partnering with a supplier like A-Pac Manufacturing.
We’re committed to top-of-the-line recycled plastic products. Our expertise in reusing resin means you get durable, reliable poly bags that support your sustainability goals without compromising performance.
Contact us today to learn more about A-Pac Manufacturing’s sustainable packaging options or to request a sample of our recycled poly bags.