Cortec provides traceable recycled content options for flexible packaging

Cortec Corporation is providing manufacturers with a pathway to meet international plastic regulations by integrating recycled content into its Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) packaging.

The company currently manufactures its VpCI-126 films using a minimum of 10% recycled resin, with specialised variations reaching 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content. To ensure compliance for global trade, Cortec utilises traceable resin streams that allow international exporters to document the recycled components within their protective packaging. One regular exporter to the Indian market has already transitioned its entire inventory of VpCI-126 bags to meet the 20% recycled content threshold.

In addition to content integration, Cortec and its European subsidiary, EcoCortec, operate an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) circular economy programme. Under this system, the company collects clean, used VCI film from certified recycling partners to use as raw material for new production. This process involves testing the gathered plastic to maintain the structural integrity and corrosion protection properties of the film.

The recycling programme has resulted in the recovery of 33,000-pounds (14,969-kg) of plastic from a single chiller manufacturer in the USA. In Europe, the partnership between EcoCortec and Jakob Schober utilises 30% PCR film while returning production scrap for reprocessing. This systematic approach allows large organisations to establish a closed-loop waste stream by coordinating with suppliers to return dry, uncontaminated materials directly to the manufacturer.

By combining the use of PCR resins with a dedicated reclamation infrastructure, Cortec enables manufacturers to reduce their plastic footprint while adhering to evolving environmental legislation.