Leading the green transformation: How domestic plastic brands can leverage PCR materials to open up the international market

  Today, as the environmental protection wave sweeps the global manufacturing industry, Chinese plastic companies are reshaping the competitiveness of the industry through innovative recycling technologies. Post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR), as a key carrier of the circular economy, have become a green pass for leading domestic brands to break into the international market. Take the latest food-grade TPE launched by Avant as an example. This material containing 25% recycled PP components not only passed the strict review of the US FDA and obtained a no objection letter (NOL), but also broke the industry prejudice that "recycling means low quality" with a hardness performance of 65 Shore A. Its birth confirms the application potential of PCR materials in high-end scenarios such as toothbrush handles and food containers, and provides a replicable technical template for Chinese plastic product companies.

  International regulatory dynamics are accelerating the compliance process of PCR materials. In the second quarter of 2024, the US FDA intensively approved 12 recycled plastic notices, covering a variety of polymers such as PET, PP, and PS. Among them, the high-density polyethylene (HDPE) beverage bottle caps of Germany's Gneuss and the chemically recycled PET of the Mexican Alpek Group highlight the parallel development of physical recycling and chemical recycling technology routes. These certifications strictly limit the conditions for the use of materials: for example, when the recycled polypropylene of the Indian Pashupati Group is approved for use in fresh fruit and vegetable packaging, it must meet the E-G temperature specifications (i.e., refrigerated to room temperature environment). If domestic companies want to enter the European and American markets, mastering these grading standards will become the key to breaking through.

  The value chain construction of plastic recycling certification requires a systematic layout. Starting from the traceability of raw materials, brands need to establish a transparent recycling collection system to ensure that PCR components can be traced back to food contact grade waste plastics. The production process must pass certifications such as the GRS Global Recycling Standard, which requires at least 20% of recycled materials to obtain access qualifications, and the use of certification labels must be increased to more than 50%. It is worth noting that a modified plastic company in Dongguan successfully entered the Coca-Cola supply chain last year after winning the GRS certification with its "bottle-to-bottle" rPET technology, confirming the recognition of the certification system by international brands.

  Technological innovation is breaking the performance bottleneck of PCR materials. The compatibilizer formula developed by a Ningbo company effectively solved the problem of molecular chain degradation caused by multiple recycling, and increased the impact strength of recycled HDPE by 40%; while the devolatilization technology of Shanghai Institute of Chemical Industry successfully removed the odorous small molecules in the recycling process. These breakthroughs have pushed PCR materials to extend from low-end packaging to high-value fields such as automotive parts and electronic appliances. According to industry forecasts, the scale of China's recycled plastics market will exceed 20 million tons in 2025, and companies that have laid out technical patents in advance will occupy the commanding heights in the competition.

  For plastic brands planning to expand their international business, it is recommended to adopt a three-stage strategy: initially, choose a single category of PCR resin (such as rPET) with mature technology to enter, and establish market trust through FDA no objection letters or GRS certification; in the medium term, jointly build a closed-loop system with recycling companies, such as toy manufacturers cooperating with community recycling outlets to obtain food-grade waste plastics; in the long term, explore chemical recycling technology to convert mixed waste plastics into oil-based raw materials to achieve infinite circulation. Only by integrating environmental certification into the entire life cycle of products can Chinese plastic brands truly achieve green premiums.