PolyCycle Innovation LLC, an environmentally conscious company based in Crawfordsville, Indiana, specializes in producing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) postconsumer resin (PCR). Their latest achievement is the development of PolyCycle, a unique resin created using their proprietary technology. This groundbreaking resin is derived from recycled plastics sourced through partnerships with various North American recycling organizations. It has been engineered specifically for use in food and beverage closures, making it a noteworthy contribution to sustainable packaging solutions.

Working in collaboration with Closure Systems International Inc. (CSI), headquartered in Indianapolis, PolyCycle Innovation has introduced caps and closures made from up to 100 percent PolyCycle into the market. These innovative closures are now found in a wide range of products, offering customers a sustainable and customizable solution.

PolyCycle Innovation employs a process that effectively eliminates residual contaminants from PCR materials, resulting in "closure-to-closure" PCR that matches or exceeds the performance of virgin resins. This achievement reduces the reliance on virgin materials, contributing to a more sustainable approach in the industry.

The environmental benefits of PolyCycle closures are noteworthy. They can help companies and brands reduce energy consumption by a significant 79 percent during the resin manufacturing process and produce 67 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional HDPE closures. These improvements over traditional virgin plastic closures support sustainability and environmental goals and help CSI customers meet packaging requirements legislation such as California's SB 54 and extended producer responsibility (EPR) requirements.

Moreover, PolyCycle Innovation proudly announced that its PCR resin has received third-party certification following an audit conducted by GreenCircle Certified LLC, a company based in Royersford, Pennsylvania. This certification verifies that the resin contains 100 percent postconsumer recycled content.

PolyCycle closures can be produced with up to 100 percent PCR content, depending on the constraints of the packaging type. CSI has conducted tests on PCR closures that incorporate varying percentages of PolyCycle resin, ranging from 30 percent to 100 percent. The results indicate that high levels of PCR content do not compromise manufacturing, quality, or performance. In fact, PolyCycle resin meets or surpasses all closure performance requirements, including taste and odor, environmental stress crack resistance (ESR), dimensional stability, and CO2 retention.

These innovative closures are available in both PE and PP materials and can be customized to meet brand-specific color requirements. They cater to a wide array of market segments, including still and sparkling water, carbonated soft drinks, noncarbonated beverages, liquid dairy markets, food, personal care, and pharmaceutical applications. With their sustainability and performance advantages, PolyCycle closures are set to make a significant impact in the packaging industry, offering a greener and more responsible option for consumers and brands alike.