It’s easy to say “packaging made of recycled material“-the world of recycling is made up of nuances that can change dramatically in terms of environmental sustainability.
More and more companies are asking for recycled Aluminium tubes, especially cosmetic tubes. This is a very positive change, which also reflects the changing sensitivity of end consumers: marketing studies confirm that the public is inclined to prefer products that boast packaging made of recycled and/or recyclable materials and even to consider this aspect as a must-have feature of luxury products.
But what, really, does “recycled Aluminium” mean?
Does Aluminium recycled packaging really have the same characteristics as packaging produced from the raw material?
Can recycled Aluminium be used all the time, or can its adoption be affected by the intended use of the packaging?
In this article, we will try to give as comprehensive an answer as possible to these and many other questions, based on real interviews. However, it all starts with a fundamental difference: the difference between PIR (Post-Industrial Recycled) and PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) materials.
Aluminium PIR: Post-Industrial Recycled material
PIR, Post-Industrial Recycled material, is recycled material from industrial processing waste. Waste is inevitably produced during the production chain: it is not simply manufacturing errors, but small fragments of Aluminium derived from cuts, closures, finishing operations, and so on. Our processes follow strict quality criteria that aim to reduce these scraps to a minimum, but in an industrial production they still come to constitute significant volumes from an environmental point of view. The waste is then recovered, compacted, prepared for recovery and sent to recycling plants.
These Aluminium scraps are particularly “valuable” for recycling because they have never come into contact with any product, whether cosmetic creams, sauces, adhesive glues or anything else. As a result, they have been less exposed to contamination. For this reason, PIR is also called Pre-consumer-recycled material, because it arrives at the recycling plant directly from the factory, without having gone through the consumer cycle.
Aluminium PCR: Post-Consumer recycled material.
PCR, Post-Consumer Recycled, comes from materials that have been used by end consumers and, at the end of their use cycle, they are collected for recycling.
PCR is rightly perceived as essential in terms of environmental sustainability: the environmental impact of PCR is in fact much more complex to manage. If in the case of RIP we have two actors involved, an industrial company that collects waste and a consortium or company that recovers it, in the case of PCR the actors are as numerous as the end consumers: this creates a fragmented scenario that can only be managed with the cooperation of local waste collection institutions. In addition, for the process to occur properly, end consumers must be educated on the proper recycling of various materials according to local regulations. And as we all know, this is always a challenge….
Aluminium recycle: some data
Aluminium is infinitely recyclable, and the recycling process requires 95% less energy than production from raw material. Because of this, it is considered one of the eco-friendly materials par excellence: an estimated 75% of Aluminium ever produced in the world is still in use. The recycling rate that can exceed 90% in many countries. Italy is among the most virtuous countries: according to CIAL Consortium data, 70.3 percent of Aluminium packaging placed on the market (or 59,300 tons) has been sent for recycling and, with energy recovery, the total of those recovered stands at 74.1 %. A result that also exceeds the 70% average of recent years and far exceeds the EU targets for 2025 (50%) and 2030 (60%). Still remarkable percentages when compared to plastics: 25 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the EU each year, but less than 30 percent is collected for recycling. Moreover, Aluminium is still Aluminium, while plastics are many and with very different characteristics, including in terms of recyclability.
Aluminium recycling essentially consists of melting the collected waste materials, either PIR or PCR. Very high temperatures and other subsequent physical-chemical treatments allow slag, residual content or paint to be removed, resulting in new Aluminium ready to be reused in a variety of use applications, from packaging to construction.
Recycled Aluminium packaging: what rules?
Regulations on recycling and the use of recycled materials vary widely from country to country, particularly in the world of packaging. This regulatory variability directly influences the choice between Aluminium PIR, Aluminium PCR, and virgin material. Other decisive factors in the choice are the difference between primary or secondary packaging (the former in direct contact with the product, the latter not) and the target sector: the pharmaceutical and food industries, for example, are subject to harder regulations, leading them to prefer packaging from raw material or, in some cases, PIR to ensure greater purity and safety. At least as far as primary packaging is concerned, i.e., that in direct contact with the product; for secondary packaging, on the other hand, there is more flexibility.
Does Tubettificio Perfektüp supplies recycled Aluminium tubes?
We come to the question that so many companies are asking: can our packaging company supply recycled Aluminium tubes?
The short answer is: yes! But it is good to elaborate.
At Tubettificio Perfektüp, sustainability is a core value. Recognizing the crucial role of recycling, we are committed to minimizing manufacturing waste, collecting it and sending it to the recycling process through collaboration with CIAL Consortium.
However, our processes are guided by the quality standards of the pharmaceutical industry, so most of our production must be done from the extrusion of the Aluminium tube from raw material as required by the industry to eliminate the risk of impurities that, although minimal, could theoretically affect the product’s compliance to the industry’s stringent quality standards.
However, this does not at all prevent us from working on recycled materials; on the contrary: at the request of clients, our production can safely focus on PIR or PCR materials. This change does not require major adaptations in terms of machine preparation and will still follow processes marked by high quality standards that conform to the intended use, whether it is for tubes for food products, for cosmetics, or for DIY products.
The result will be a quality tube that is stylish, functional, safe and even more environmentally friendly.
Sustainable packaging: beyond catchphrases
Tubettificio Perfektüp is committed to promoting a culture of sustainability and recycling both within our company and among our clients, and even to engaging the end public on the importance of recycling and sustainable purchasing choices.
In particular, we believe that the pharmaceutical sector has ample room for improvement when it comes to the use of recycled materials. While quality must remain an absolute priority, there are many possibilities that have yet to be explored, especially in secondary packaging. But even on the pharmaceutical packaging front, so cautious in the face of change, something is finally moving.
For more information about our products and sustainability commitments, please visit our packaging sustainability page. Together, we can make a difference for our planet (and your brand).
