What is PCR Plastic and How Does it Help The Environment

How does PCR help the environment?

There is no holy grail or one answer to eco-conscious packaging, says Ewing. “When it came down to us developing the line, the biggest thing was refills and PCR.” A lot of testing was conducted, she says, to make sure that PCR was compatible with the components. Rose Inc is transparent about the amount of PCR used in its line, with information readily available through each product page on the brand’s website. (For example, the Softlight Luminous Hydrating Concealer contains 50 percent PCR in its cap, while the bottle uses 20 percent.) Information on how to recycle the products when you have empties is also available.

The difference between PCR and other eco-friendly packaging

Other sustainable packaging includes plant-based materials that are easily biodegradable and compostable. “PCR takes advantage of material already introduced into the supply chain while another form of packaging, like a compostable package, can be considered eco-friendly because it is capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms, therefore reintroducing it back into nature as a usable input,” says Payne. “Both involve material being utilized again and not ‘wasted’ after a single use.” There is also refillable packaging, which is another huge focus for Rose Inc. “We made sure that not only were we adding the PCR content to the products, but we were making refillable packaging as well, so people can reuse those items and have a keepsake for themselves,” explains Ewing. “And we're continuing to develop and innovate new things as we go down the line and launch more products.”