What is the difference between PCR and PIR?

PCR is post-consumer repro — resin recovered after a consumer used the product. PIR is post-industrial repro, made from clean factory scrap and off-spec rolls that never reached a consumer. PIR runs cleaner and more predictably; PCR is the grade that counts toward recycled-content targets. We produce both, in clear and homogenized colour.

Which grade should I choose?

If a customer, brand owner or packaging spec is asking you for genuine recycled content, choose PCR. If you want the cleanest, most predictable recycled pellet for a demanding line, choose PIR. Choose clear where film clarity matters and colour where it does not. Most converters we supply run more than one grade.

What is post-consumer repro (PCR)?

PCR is resin made from plastic that already did its first job and came back through the recycling stream — in our case clear and mixed LDPE film recovered after use, cleaned and re-extruded into pellets.

What is post-industrial repro (PIR)?

PIR is resin made from clean industrial roll stock: unused, off-spec and surplus film rolls from converters and packaging manufacturers. Because it never entered the consumer waste stream it arrives essentially free of dirt and moisture.

What does homogenized mean?

Incoming material is blended to a fixed recipe and melt-mixed during compounding, so the finished pellet holds one consistent colour and melt behaviour across the lot instead of varying with whatever feedstock arrived. Our colour grades are homogenized.

Yes, free. Tell us the grade and roughly what monthly volume you use, and we will send a sample so you can run it on your own line before committing.

How much can you supply in total?

Up to 620,000 lbs a month across the four grades — 160,000 lbs of each PCR grade, 60,000 lbs of clear PIR and 300,000 lbs of colour PIR.

We produce in Langley, British Columbia and ship across Canada and into the United States in gaylords or 1,000 kg bulk bags.

Post-consumer & post-industrial repro

Compare our four recycled LDPE grades

PCR and PIR, clear and homogenized colour — every specification side by side, so you can see which pellet fits your line. Up to 620,000 lbs a month from Langley, BC.

Request a free sample Call Peter Bissada — (778) 751-4907

Full specification comparison

Scroll the table sideways to see all four grades.

Specification	LDPE Clear PCRPost-Consumer Repro	LDPE Color Homogenized PCRPost-Consumer Repro	LDPE Clear PIRPost-Industrial Repro	LDPE Color Homogenized PIRPost-Industrial Repro
Stream	PCR	PCR	PIR	PIR
Colour	Natural / translucent	Homogenized, uniform shade	Natural / translucent	Homogenized, uniform shade
Feedstock	Post-consumer A-grade clear film	Mixed post-consumer LDPE film	Clean clear industrial film rolls	Printed & pigmented industrial rolls
Density	0.916 g/cm³	0.916 g/cm³	0.921 g/cm³	0.912 g/cm³
Melt flow index	0.9 – 1.6 g/10 min	0.9 – 1.6 g/10 min	0.60 – 0.75 g/10 min	0.75 g/10 min
MFI test method	190 °C / 2160 g	190 °C / 2160 g	190 °C / 2160 g	190 °C / 2160 g
Screen mesh	Double 100 / 80 #	Double 100 / 80 #	Single 100 #	Single 100 #
Filtration	Dual-stage + laser	Dual-stage + laser	Single-stage, 100 mesh	Single-stage, 100 mesh
Degassing	Dual vacuum	Dual vacuum	Vacuum	Vacuum
Capacity / month	160,000 lbs	160,000 lbs	60,000 lbs	300,000 lbs
Counts toward recycled-content targets	Yes	Yes	Not typically	Not typically
Best for	Recycled content where film clarity still matters	Recycled-content targets at volume, colour not critical	Demanding lines needing the cleanest, most predictable pellet	High-volume liner, wrap and construction film
Spec sheet	Download PDF	Download PDF	Download PDF	Download PDF

Which one do you need?

Choose PCR — post-consumer repro

A customer or brand spec is asking you for genuine recycled content
You are reporting against a recycled-content target
You need volume — 160,000 lbs a month in clear or colour
Your line can tolerate post-consumer feedstock

Choose PIR — post-industrial repro

You want the cleanest, most predictable recycled pellet we make
Your line is demanding — low gels and tight melt flow matter
You are trialling recycled content for the first time
You need real volume in colour — 300,000 lbs a month

Still not sure? Call Peter Bissada at (778) 751-4907 and describe your line — we will tell you which grade to try, and send a sample free.

The four grades

LDPE Clear PCR Pellets

Post-Consumer Repro

Clear post-consumer film, run segregated and laser filtered, for converters adding recycled content without giving up film clarity.

Density	0.916 g/cm³
Melt flow index	0.9 – 1.6 g/10 min
Capacity	160,000 lbs/month

See full specifications

LDPE Color Homogenized PCR Pellets

Post-Consumer Repro

Mixed post-consumer film blended to recipe and melt-homogenized, so every lot arrives one shade instead of a speckle of whatever came in.

Density	0.916 g/cm³
Melt flow index	0.9 – 1.6 g/10 min
Capacity	160,000 lbs/month

See full specifications

LDPE Clear PIR Pellets

Post-Industrial Repro

Clean industrial roll stock that never touched the consumer waste stream — the cleanest feedstock we run, on a single controlled pass.

Density	0.921 g/cm³
Melt flow index	0.60 – 0.75 g/10 min
Capacity	60,000 lbs/month

See full specifications

LDPE Color Homogenized PIR Pellets

Post-Industrial Repro

Printed and pigmented industrial rolls, blended to recipe and melt-homogenized. Our highest-volume grade at 300,000 lbs a month.

Density	0.912 g/cm³
Melt flow index	0.75 g/10 min
Capacity	300,000 lbs/month

See full specifications

PCR or PIR — what actually separates them

Post-consumer repro (PCR) is made from film that already did its first job and came back through the recycling stream. It is the grade that counts when a customer, a brand owner, or a packaging spec asks you for genuine recycled content.

Post-industrial repro (PIR) is made from clean factory material — unused, off-spec, and surplus rolls that never reached a consumer. It arrives without the dirt and moisture post-consumer film carries, so it runs cleaner, with fewer gels and tighter melt flow.

Most converters we work with run both: PIR where the line is demanding, PCR where the recycled-content number has to hold up. We produce all four combinations, so you are not splitting your supply across vendors.

Common questions

What is the difference between PCR and PIR?: PCR is post-consumer repro — resin recovered after a consumer used the product. PIR is post-industrial repro, made from clean factory scrap and off-spec rolls that never reached a consumer. PIR runs cleaner and more predictably; PCR is the grade that counts toward recycled-content targets. We produce both, in clear and homogenized colour.
Which grade should I choose?: If a customer, brand owner or packaging spec is asking you for genuine recycled content, choose PCR. If you want the cleanest, most predictable recycled pellet for a demanding line, choose PIR. Choose clear where film clarity matters and colour where it does not. Most converters we supply run more than one grade.
What is post-consumer repro (PCR)?: PCR is resin made from plastic that already did its first job and came back through the recycling stream — in our case clear and mixed LDPE film recovered after use, cleaned and re-extruded into pellets.
What is post-industrial repro (PIR)?: PIR is resin made from clean industrial roll stock: unused, off-spec and surplus film rolls from converters and packaging manufacturers. Because it never entered the consumer waste stream it arrives essentially free of dirt and moisture.

What does homogenized mean?: Incoming material is blended to a fixed recipe and melt-mixed during compounding, so the finished pellet holds one consistent colour and melt behaviour across the lot instead of varying with whatever feedstock arrived. Our colour grades are homogenized.
Do you send samples?: Yes, free. Tell us the grade and roughly what monthly volume you use, and we will send a sample so you can run it on your own line before committing.
How much can you supply in total?: Up to 620,000 lbs a month across the four grades — 160,000 lbs of each PCR grade, 60,000 lbs of clear PIR and 300,000 lbs of colour PIR.
Where do you ship?: We produce in Langley, British Columbia and ship across Canada and into the United States in gaylords or 1,000 kg bulk bags.

Get a sample of any grade

Free, no commitment. Tell us which grade and roughly what monthly volume you go through, and we will get material into your hands to run.

Request a free sample Call Peter Bissada — (778) 751-4907

Peter Bissada · peterb@westcoastplasticrecycling.com · (778) 751-4907
Westcoast Plastic Recycling, 20255 102 Ave, Langley BC V1M 4B4