In the context of rapid environmental changes today, low-carbon environmental protection has become a global focus of attention. The problem of plastic pollution is particularly prominent, and the application of post consumer recycled plastics (PCR) is gradually emerging. However, in order to ensure its environmental performance and quality, the traceability of PCR is particularly crucial. This article will explore how to ensure the traceability of PCR, including standards and regulatory requirements, the efficiency, transparency, and accuracy of the traceability process, as well as the changes and improvements this move brings to the industry.
The significance and importance of traceability
Traceability refers to the ability to track and confirm the source, processing, and flow of a product. For PCR, traceability is not only a technical requirement, but also a cornerstone for achieving plastic circular economy and environmental sustainability. By ensuring traceability, a reliable supply chain system can be established, enabling consumers and relevant stakeholders to have a clear understanding of the source and quality of PCR.
Standards and regulatory requirements for traceability
Supply chain transparency: Supply chain transparency requires that every step from raw material recycling, processing, regeneration to the final product can be accurately recorded and tracked. This includes recording information such as the source, production location, and recycling route of raw materials.
Material identification: PCR should be distinguished from native plastics through identification, coding, and other methods to ensure that consumers can recognize and recognize them. This helps to promote consumer choice of environmentally friendly products.
Quality standards: The quality of PCR must meet specific standards, including physical properties, chemical properties, etc. This can be achieved through standardized testing and certification, ensuring that PCR is comparable to native plastics.
Environmental compliance: The production and use of PCR must comply with environmental regulations and restrictions, avoid the use of harmful substances, and ensure compliance with the principles of green production.
To achieve efficiency, transparency, and accuracy in the traceability process
Digital traceability system: Establish a digital traceability system based on blockchain, cloud computing and other technologies, enabling real-time recording, storage, and sharing of information. Blockchain technology ensures the immutability of data and ensures the security of information.
Automated data collection: Introduce automated equipment and sensors in various production processes, automatically collect data and upload it to the traceability system. This can reduce the risk of human intervention and improve the accuracy of data.
Data sharing and cooperation: Participants in all stages need to share data to ensure consistency of information. By utilizing data sharing, all parties can better collaborate and improve the transparency of the entire supply chain.
Real time monitoring: Introducing real-time monitoring technology to continuously monitor the transportation, processing, and production processes of materials. This helps to detect abnormal situations in a timely manner and reduce the occurrence of non-conforming products.
The impact of traceability on industry change and enhancement
Enhancing environmental awareness: Achieving PCR traceability will enhance consumer awareness of environmental protection, encourage more people to choose to use PCR products, and thus reduce plastic pollution.
Supply chain efficiency improvement: Traceability makes the supply chain more efficient, reducing resource waste and energy consumption. Manufacturers can better predict demand and reduce inventory backlog.
Innovation driven: Implementing traceability will encourage enterprises to innovate in the fields of recycling, processing, and regeneration, promoting the development of more efficient technologies and processes.
Market competitive advantage: Providing traceable PCR products will enable enterprises to gain a competitive advantage in the market and meet the growing demand for environmental protection consumption.
Regulatory compliance guarantee: Enterprises that meet traceability requirements are more likely to comply with environmental regulations, reducing the risk of environmental compliance.
Coca Cola’s “environmentally friendly bottle”
Coca Cola has launched environmentally friendly bottles made using PCR in multiple countries, demonstrating their traceability through traceability systems. These bottles use up to 25% PCR material, aimed at reducing reliance on new plastics. By scanning the QR code on the bottle, consumers can learn about the source and production process of the PCR material used in the bottle. This measure has increased consumer awareness of the environmental friendliness of products and also promoted the development of plastic circular economy.
Coca Cola’s “environmentally friendly bottles” demonstrate the successful implementation of traceability. Through the traceability system, consumers can understand the source and production process of the PCR material used in the bottle, thereby enhancing their awareness and trust in environmentally friendly products.
Against the backdrop of increasingly serious plastic pollution issues, traceability has become a key factor in ensuring post consumer recycled plastics
An important means of improving environmental performance and quality. The implementation of traceability will improve supply chain efficiency, transparency, and accuracy by establishing standards and specifications, constructing digital traceability systems, achieving automated data collection and real-time monitoring. This move will also bring positive changes and improvements to the industry, such as increasing environmental awareness, improving supply chain efficiency, strengthening innovation promotion, enhancing market competitiveness, and strengthening regulatory compliance protection.
Therefore, for post consumer recycled plastic PCR, ensuring its traceability is not only an environmental requirement, but also a crucial step in building a sustainable plastic circular economy. By establishing clear standards and specifications, utilizing digital traceability systems and automation technology, traceability will become a booster for promoting industry environmental upgrades. Only through global cooperation and joint efforts to ensure the traceability of PCR can we take a solid step towards protecting the Earth and future generations.