Quick answer: PCR (post-consumer recycled) plastic has been used by a household or business, thrown away, collected and reprocessed. PIR (post-industrial recycled, also called pre-consumer) plastic is factory waste, such as trims and offcuts, that’s reprocessed before it ever reaches a customer. Both count towards the 30% recycled content line for Plastic Packaging Tax at the moment, but from 1 April 2027 only post-consumer material will. Every roll of our pallet wrap contains at least 30% PCR.

“30% recycled content” sounds like one simple claim. In fact the recycled plastic behind it can come from two quite different places. The difference matters if you report on the packaging you use, if your customers ask about it, and soon for tax as well.

What post-consumer recycled (PCR) means

PCR is plastic that has already done a job. It was made into packaging or a product, sold, used and then thrown away. Instead of going to landfill or being burned, it was collected, sorted, washed and turned back into pellets that can be made into new film.

A lot of the PCR that goes into film comes from used film and bags, which is fitting for pallet wrap. Because it takes material out of the waste stream, PCR is usually seen as the stronger environmental claim of the two.

It’s also harder to work with. Used plastic arrives mixed and dirty, and even after cleaning it can vary from batch to batch. Making thin, strong stretch film with a good share of PCR takes more care than making it from new plastic alone.

What post-industrial recycled (PIR) means

PIR comes from the manufacturing process itself. Edge trims, rolls that didn’t meet spec, and offcuts from converting are collected, reprocessed and used again. It’s still recycled rather than new plastic, and using it is better than throwing it away.

But PIR never left the factory. It wasn’t going to end up in a bin or a landfill site in the same way used packaging would. It’s also cleaner and more consistent than PCR, which makes it cheaper and easier to use.

How Plastic Packaging Tax treats them

Plastic Packaging Tax applies to plastic packaging made in or imported into the UK with less than 30% recycled plastic. Right now HMRC counts both post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled plastic towards that 30%. The one exception is scrap that a factory simply feeds straight back into the same process, which doesn’t count.

That changes on 1 April 2027. From then, pre-consumer plastic will no longer count as recycled content for PPT. A film that reaches 30% today mostly with PIR could fall below the line next April and become taxable. Film made with 30% or more PCR isn’t affected. Our Plastic Packaging Tax guide explains how the tax works in more detail.

What a recycled content claim can hide

A single percentage on a spec sheet doesn’t always tell you the full story. A few things are worth checking:

Is the figure PCR, PIR, or a mix? A blend of 10% PCR and 20% PIR is still “30% recycled” today.
Is it by weight? That’s the measure PPT uses.
Does it apply to every roll, or is it an average across a range where some products have less?
Does it say “up to 30%”? That can mean anything below 30% as well.

Why the difference matters to you

If your business reports on the packaging it uses, whether for a customer, a tender or your own figures, a blended recycled figure may not be enough. Some customers and reporting schemes ask specifically for the post-consumer share, because that’s the harder standard to meet and the one that shows plastic actually being kept in use.

After April 2027 there’s a price angle too. Film that relies on PIR to reach 30% may pick up a tax cost, and that cost usually ends up in the price.

What to ask a supplier

Ask for the recycled content by weight, and how much of it is post-consumer. Ask whether the film will still be over 30% under the April 2027 rules. And ask for the answer in writing. A supplier who knows their film can answer straight away. A vague answer is worth following up before you commit to a large order.

Where we stand

Every roll we sell contains at least 30% post-consumer recycled plastic. That goes for the whole range, clear and black, 17 and 23 micron, standard and extended core. It isn’t a blended figure that leans on cheaper factory scrap to reach the number, so it will still count after the rules change.

FAQs

Is PCR film weaker than film made from new plastic?

Not when it’s made well. Our 23 micron film is designed for loads over 500kg and our 17 micron film for even loads up to 500kg, and both stretch up to 500%. Getting that performance with PCR is harder for the manufacturer, but it shouldn’t be your problem as the buyer.

Is PIR a bad thing?

No. Reusing factory waste is better than throwing it away. It just isn’t the same as recycling used plastic, and from April 2027 it won’t count for Plastic Packaging Tax.

Why is a lot of recycled film black?

Recycled plastic can have slight colour differences from batch to batch. Black hides these, so it’s a common choice for film with recycled content. Our clear stretch film contains the same 30%+ PCR as our black stretch film.

Can pallet wrap be recycled again after use?

Usually, yes, as long as it’s clean and kept separate from other waste. Most household collections won’t take it, but many commercial waste services will. Our guide on whether stretch wrap is recyclable explains how.

See the full specification for each roll, including recycled content, on our stretch film page.

Recycled Content in Stretch Film: What PCR and PIR Actually Mean