Interpretation of common issues with GRS plastic bags: PCR, PIR, recyclable, degradable

GRS is very popular, but many customers are unclear about some of the details of GRS, such as what the recycled content means, what PCR refers to, whether the Recycled Polybag I ordered is recyclable or biodegradable, whether recyclable plastic bags are environmentally friendly plastic bags, and where to order high-quality recycled plastic bags?

With these questions in mind, Shunxingyuan Packaging, a professional flexible packaging manufacturer, will answer them one by one.

1. What are GRS plastic bags?

GRS plastic bags, or recyclable plastic bags, refer to plastic bags that meet customer requirements, reach internationally recognized environmental standards, and are truly recyclable and reusable. They are an important product of environmentally friendly packaging bags.

Recycled content: The proportion of recycled materials in a product or packaging by weight. Only pre-consumer and post-consumer materials are considered recycled content.

Post-consumer recycled plastic bags ( PCR): Materials generated by households or commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities as end-product users that cannot be reused for their intended purpose. Includes materials recovered from the distribution chain. That is, plastic bags that are recycled after being consumed by consumers.

Pre-consumer recycled plastic bags ( PIR): Materials diverted from waste streams during the manufacturing process. Excludes the reuse of certain materials, such as rework, regrinding, or residues generated during processing and reused in the same process. That is, recycled plastic bags that have not been consumed by consumers.

Because GRS plastic bags are made from waste recycling, they are very popular in foreign countries, especially in developed countries in Europe and America. Currently, Shunxingyuan Packaging is the most mature GRS plastic bag production factory in China.

2. Are GRS plastic bags biodegradable plastic bags?

No

1. GRS plastic bags are environmentally friendly products that allow plastics to be recycled, reducing the overuse of resources and environmental pollution.

2. GRS can prove that plastic packaging bags can be recycled because GRS is a traceability certification, which is the most credible proof of recyclable packaging bags.

3. All certified products have standard recycled material content labels, providing a reference for the next recycling step.

4. Enhance the company's "green" and "environmental protection" market competitiveness, and are more easily recognized by companies with recycling capabilities.

5. GRS certification provides more protection for employees, who are important assets of the company and an inexhaustible driving force for the company's progress.

Biodegradable plastic bags refer to plastic packaging bags that have a certain proportion of additives (such as starch, modified starch, or other cellulose, photosensitizers, biodegradable agents, etc.) added during the production process, with D2W, ECO, BDP, etc. as representatives, reducing their stability, and then making it easier to degrade in the natural environment.

Biodegradable plastic bags refer to plastic packaging bags that completely degrade into water, carbon dioxide, and other small molecules. The main source of this fully degradable material is corn, cassava, etc., which are processed into polylactic acid, which is PLA. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a new type of bio-based and renewable biodegradable material. Starch raw materials are saccharified to obtain glucose, which is then fermented with certain strains to produce high-purity lactic acid, which is then chemically synthesized into polylactic acid with a certain molecular weight. It has good biodegradability and can be completely degraded by microorganisms in nature under specific conditions after use, eventually producing carbon dioxide and water without polluting the environment. This is very beneficial for environmental protection and is a recognized environmentally friendly material.

3. Can biodegradable and recyclable plastic bags be made?

Yes

Adding degradable plastic bags represented by ECO and BDP does not affect the recyclability of the plastic bags. Because D2W is photo-oxygen degradable, it is not conducive to recycling. Biodegradable bags are also not conducive to recycling due to rapid oxidation, so they are not recommended.