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PCR Content May See Large Increase in Use in the Next Decade

Demand for PCR content in packaging far exceeds available supply, but emerging technologies could help increase production.

Increasing interest in PCR materials aligns with state mandates and voluntary company goals.
Increasing interest in PCR materials aligns with state mandates and voluntary company goals.
PMMI Business Intelligence/AMERIPEN: 2023 Packaging Compass

Demand for post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is far exceeding supply for these materials, according to PMMI Business Intelligence and AMERIPEN's collaborative report, “2023 Packaging Compass.”

In a survey of 645 consumer packaged goods (CPG) stakeholders conducted for the report, many participants said they foresee a significant increase in using PCR content within their packaging within the next decade.

Supply of post-consumer recycled PET is about a quarter of demand per company goals and commitments.Supply of post-consumer recycled PET is about a quarter of demand per company goals and commitments.PMMI Business Intelligence/AMERIPEN: 2023 Packaging CompassThis interest in PCR aligns with increased state mandates for recycled content in voluntary goals signed by numerous companies, such as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Global Commitment, to increase recycled content in packaging.

While access to and use of recycled content varies by material, a previous study by AMERIPEN examined corporate goals for PCR content in plastic packaging against available supply and capacity.

The study found that demand for PCR content far exceeded the available supply for almost all plastic resins. It also demonstrated that, in some cases, the U.S. lacks sufficient infrastructure capacity to meet potential demand. 

For PET specifically, current PCR content usage (0.5 billion pounds) is about a quarter of the demand per goals and commitments (2.0 billion pounds). Current production capacity for post-consumer recycled PET also lags behind goals, at about 1.3 billion pounds. 

This indicates that the U.S. packaging and recycling industries must consider the investment needed to match industry demand for PCR content within packaging.  

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