PIR plastic (Post-Industrial Recycled) is a valuable resource for companies seeking recycled products. This material contributes to the circular economy by reducing the production of virgin plastic.
BMP TAPPI has long incorporated PCR plastic materials (Post-Consumer Recycled) into its production of caps and industrial components, and has now integrated PIR plastic, further expanding its product range and the use of recycled materials in its manufacturing processes.
But what are the main characteristics of PIR plastic, and how does it differ from PCR? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is PIR Plastic: features and benefits
The term PIR refers to a type of recycled plastic derived from waste generated during the production process.
Post-industrial plastic, for example, includes material derived from trimmings, processing residues, or defective parts. These parts never reach the end consumer and are processed to create a new raw material.
Characteristics of PIR (Post-Industrial Recycled) Plastic
PIR plastic is:
- homogeneous
- clean
- easy to work with
- highly durable
- strong and high-quality.
The benefits of PIR Plastic
Precisely because it remains within factories, post-industrial plastic is free from external contamination and easily recyclable.
Furthermore, using PIR material is advantageous because it reduces product disposal costs and the use of virgin plastics.
What are the differences between PIR and PCR plastics?
The key differences between PIR and PCR plastics are:
- Source: PIR plastics come from industrial waste, while PCR plastics come from the recovery of products that have already reached consumers, such as bottles or packaging.
- Pre-treatment: Unlike PCR plastics, Post-Industrial Recycled (PIR) materials do not require careful sorting or preliminary operations (such as advanced cleaning and decontamination of the plastics).
- Processing: PCR plastic requires a complex treatment process to be reused, involving washing, shredding, and pelletizing the material, whereas PIR is recovered and reintroduced into the production cycle with minimal processing.
- Quality: Higher for post-industrial plastics, which are often comparable to virgin plastics because they are pure and homogeneous.
- Costs: Higher for post-consumer plastics because they are more difficult to process than PIR materials.
Companies that convert internal waste into PIR plastic also enjoy another economic advantage. By doing so, they are able to reduce disposal costs and optimize resources, thereby promoting the circular economy.
This is also in line with the commitment of BMP TAPPI, which already manufactures caps from PCR recycled plastic and PIR materials to broadening its range of more sustainable components for industrial applications.
Would you like to learn more about PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) material? We’ve covered it here: What is PCR plastic and why use it?
PCR vs. PIR: which one should you choose?
Products made from PCR or PIR differ in many ways. When evaluating which material is best suited to your needs, you should consider several factors, including:
- your intended objective
- the target sector/application
- technical performance
- quality
- costs
- circularity.
BMP TAPPI helps companies choose the most suitable solution by identifying the most appropriate material from those available, based on their specific application requirements.
Applications of PIR plastics
Post-industrial recycled plastic is used in numerous industrial sectors thanks to its uniformity and high mechanical properties.
In the automotive sector, for example, it is often used in the manufacturing of technical components such as covers, protective parts, and molded parts that require strength and dimensional stability.
It is also used in technical packaging and shipping such as spacers and supports designed for industrial logistics. Finally, it is also used in the production of medical accessories sourced from traceable supply chains.
PIR Plastics at BMP TAPPI: Exciting news coming soon!
At BMP TAPPI, we meet the growing needs of customers committed to environmentally responsible practices. By manufacturing caps from recycled materials derived from Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) sources, we have already provided a concrete solution for those who have adopted circular economy models.
At BMP, companies seeking to optimize resources and evaluate recycled products to promote reuse will find a variety of opportunities. In fact, we manufacture recycled plastic products for numerous sectors, including the automotive and medical industries.
The acquisition by Essentra has allowed us to enhance our production capabilities and expand our product range to include innovative products, such as PIR plastics.
We invite you to follow our blog and website to discover the latest news and all our new products. Very soon, in fact, you’ll be able to choose post-industrial plastic caps and protective covers directly from our catalog!
Do you have questions about BMP TAPPI’s recycled plastics?
Contact us to learn more!