Recycled polymer services, A–Z

Recycled granules are re-pelletised recyclate in a uniform, free-flowing form suited to consistent feeding on injection-moulding and extrusion lines.

Recycled flakes are washed, size-reduced fragments — commonly PET bottle flake — used as feedstock for pelletising, fibre or sheet.

Recycled pellets are homogenised, re-pelletised recyclate offering the most consistent feeding and processing behaviour among recycled forms.

Regrind is size-reduced plastic scrap that has not been re-pelletised, offering a lower-cost recyclate for tolerant applications and blending.

Post-consumer and post-industrial recyclate differ in origin, cleanliness and the recycled-content claims they support — a key sourcing decision.

Washing removes labels, residues and contamination — the difference between washed and unwashed recyclate drives cleanliness, odour and processing behaviour.

Colour-sorted recyclate is separated by colour so processors can achieve consistent, predictable finished-part appearance.

Micronised recycled polymer powder is finely ground recyclate suited to rotational moulding, compounding and applications requiring fine particle size.

Agglomerated recyclate is densified film, fibre or low-bulk-density scrap converted into a compact, feedable form for further processing.

A structured quality assessment characterises recyclate across identity, cleanliness and key properties so buyers can qualify it with confidence.

Recycled-content verification substantiates the percentage of recycled material in a product using documentation and recognised methods.

Melt flow rate (MFR) testing indicates how easily a polymer melt flows, helping match recyclate to injection-moulding or extrusion process windows.

Contamination testing screens recyclate for foreign material, cross-polymer content and residues that could affect processing or product quality.

Batch traceability links each supplied batch to its source, processing and testing records, supporting audits, claims and issue resolution.

Moisture content testing confirms that hygroscopic recyclate is dry enough to process without hydrolytic degradation or defects.

Density and bulk-density testing help confirm polymer identity, support separation and predict feeding and packaging behaviour.

Mechanical testing characterises tensile, flexural and impact behaviour so recyclate can be qualified for structural and durable applications.

Odour and volatiles assessment gauges residual smell and emissions in recyclate, important for consumer, interior and enclosed applications.

Colour consistency and yellowness checks help predict and control the finished appearance of parts made from recyclate.

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certifies recycled content alongside social, environmental and chemical criteria, backed by chain-of-custody controls.

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) verifies and tracks recycled content through the supply chain, focused specifically on the recycled-content claim.

EN 15343 is a European standard for plastics recycling that specifies traceability and recycled-content assessment for recyclate.

ISCC PLUS certifies sustainable and recycled or bio-based content across supply chains, including mass-balance accounting for chemically recycled materials.

Chain of custody controls track recycled material through each supply-chain step, underpinning credible and auditable recycled-content claims.

ISO 14021 sets requirements for self-declared environmental claims, including recycled content and recyclability, to keep them accurate and non-misleading.

Mass-balance accounting attributes certified recycled content across outputs where recycled and virgin feedstocks are mixed during processing.

A third-party audit independently verifies recycled-content claims and the records behind them, strengthening credibility with buyers and regulators.

Supplier identification helps buyers find and shortlist recycled-material suppliers that match their polymer, quality and volume needs.

A procurement strategy aligns recycled-polymer sourcing with quality, cost, supply-security and sustainability objectives.

This service helps obligated producers source recycled content that supports Extended Producer Responsibility recycled-content obligations.

Tender and specification support helps buyers write clear, realistic recycled-material requirements that attract capable, comparable bids.

A supplier audit assesses a recycled-polymer supplier’s capability, quality controls and traceability before or during a supply relationship.

Structured supply agreements help buyers secure recycled-material volumes, quality and continuity over a defined period.

Cost management helps buyers optimise the total cost of recycled-material use across specification, form, blend and supply choices.

A practical comparison of virgin and recycled polymers across performance, consistency, cost and sustainability to guide substitution decisions.

A step-by-step guide to selecting the right recycled polymer for an application based on requirements, properties and supply.

An explainer on how recycled plastic grades are described — by polymer, source, form, colour and quality level.

A guide to making accurate, defensible recycled-content claims and avoiding greenwashing risk.

A guide to the resin identification codes 1–7 and what each means for recycling and material selection.

A practical guide to processing recycled polymers reliably on existing injection-moulding and extrusion equipment.