Recycled plastic refers to plastic recycled material. The technical term is recyclate, that is recycled plastics made of (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Plastic is recycled from industry production waste. For years now, this plastic waste has been remelted and reused. And there is recycled plastic that comes from the processing of packaging recovered from household waste. This is called post-consumer recyclate (PCR). In its raw state, PCR is a granulate that is further processed. For instance, it is used to produce the 250-ml bottles for SOLO GOYA Acrylic.
 

For KREUL, the switch to product containers made of PCR material is another step to becoming even more sustainable. After all, not all plastics are the same! New or virgin plastic is made from crude oil in a process that consumes a lot of energy. But plastic can also be made from recyclates. The production of plastic containers from recycled plastic releases 80-% less CO₂ than containers made of virgin plastic. A fantastic way to reduce our carbon footprint. We believe a more sustainable packaging for our paint can make a big difference.
 

Packaging and containers made of virgin plastic are cheaper to make. But taking responsibility for the future doesn't mean paying the best price today. For us, the switch to containers made of PCR material is an important step to even more sustainability. For cost reasons, we can’t change everything in one go. But we are gradually switching our products to PCR plastics.

It all started with the lid for KREUL Nature. The grey lid made of PCR material even means one less production step as the plastic doesn’t need to be coloured. This was followed by the KREUL Textile Markers, the KREUL Triton Acrylic Marker Natural Pigments and the KREUL Chalky markers. The plastic used in these markers consists of 70 % recycled material. That’s why we have labelled them with our “Recycled Plastic” icon.
 

It's not always easy to find a solution that is both cost-efficient and sustainable. But with the 250-ml bottle for our SOLO GOYA Acrylic, we've done just that!  We have switched bottle and lid entirely to PCR material. Both are made from 100 % recycled material. The new bottle for the artists‘ acrylic paint has also been redesigned so that the paint pours out easier and the flip-top lid closes better. And the best thing about it: with the new bottle, less paint is left in the bottle. So sustainable painting becomes practical, too!

PCR material is a fantastic alternative to conventional plastic, It is recovered from plastic packaging in household waste. So every consumer can do their bit to reduce the impact on the environment. But not all plastic packaging can be recycled! So it's important when buying consumer products to make sure that the plastic packaging is capable of being recycled. And it's essential that we separate waste properly. Not every bit of packaging waste should go into the yellow recycling bag or bin. If we separate everything correctly, every one of us can make sure that enough recycled material is available on the market.