The purpose of this blog is to highlight 4 differences between recycled PVC compound and virgin PVC that should be considered when choosing a virgin PVC compound, which has not undergone prior processing, versus a recycled PVC compound. Here, we present the main aspects to consider before making a decision:
1. Hidden costs
Although one of the advantages of choosing a recycled PVC compound (recycled PVC)The price is a factor, and it's very common for recycling companies to offer a mix of various grades and hardness levels. Removing any external contaminants that could pose a potential risk to the processing client already represents a significant effort for these recyclers; filtering tons of pellets by hardness, density, and/or color would be practically impossible.
This, in turn, means that customers willing to buy these extremely inexpensive products are constantly struggling to adjust their processes, resulting in significant losses due to the process's instability. In short, what seems cheap at first glance could end up being more expensive in the long run.
For this very reason, finding a PVC recycling supplier that can consistently guarantee the same quality from batch to batch is practically impossible. At best, their value proposition is based on filtering materials with similar appearance, application, and hardness ranges.
2.- Quality
For the same reason mentioned above, it is very difficult for a PVC processor to deliver consistent quality to their clients.
This is one of the reasons why companies that adopt a cost-reduction strategy using recycled material seek sources of PVC recycled with very flexible and high-quality products (whenever possible), such as in medical venoclysis or food-grade films. These materials are highly stable during processing, as their thermal degradation is minimal, they do not form lumps when extruding profiles mixed with virgin compound, and they are free of heavy metals restricted by the FDA.
There are other PVC grades with higher hardness and various colors, but their integration becomes more complex, requiring a trial-and-error process to validate each batch. As a general rule, it is recommended to introduce PVC recycled (or recovered PVC) that is more flexible, or similar in hardness, than the virgin resin matrix; this helps avoid several processing issues. Caution must be exercised with the percentage of recycled material mixed with virgin resin, as higher amounts increase the risk of scrap and rejects from clients.
Another degree highly sought after in the industry for applications of Rigid PVC, This is recycled water from water jugs, as it offers high impact resistance and is typically available in two colors: translucent blue or salmon pink. It's more important to be mindful of the grayish/yellowing appearance or gels that may form in the finished product due to poor integration or early signs of thermal degradation.
It should not be forgotten that the process used by the transformer has a lot to do with the percentage of recycled material added, since, for example, the injection molding process tends to exert greater stress and compression than in the case of conventional extrusion.
One recommendation to improve the incorporation of recycled PVC in your process is the addition of PVC additives, with thermal stabilizers and lubricants being the most recommended. You can visit our sister website, Chemical Additives, for more information on this topic.
3. Availability and supply
In an increasingly competitive market, companies frequently seek reliable recycled resin suppliers that allow them to maintain sales with reasonable profit margins. The problem is that guaranteeing this is difficult, as supply far exceeds demand; even in the PVC market, reprocessing is not an easy task compared to other resins, such as polyolefins, which naturally resist thermal degradation better due to their inherent lubrication properties.
Although statistics show that the market for recycled plastic resins has grown significantly over the years, the trend points toward eventual stagnation, primarily because a 100% recovered resin does not always fully meet the quality standards and performance requirements of the finished product. Additionally, recycling capacity is limited by the number of times the material has already been processed (thermal history) and by the nature of the resin itself. In the specific case of PVC, the more rigid the recycled material, the more difficult it is to incorporate it with another grade.
4. Responsibility towards the environment
The topic of PVC recycling has taught us that it is a partial, not definitive, solution. The best approach lies in consumer awareness and government programs focused on recovery, recycling, and reintegration of these materials into the production chain. Naturally, the ideal scenario involves engaging the private sector through the growth of a free-market economy and formalizing this productive sector.
Currently, there are biodegradable resin alternatives for single-use plastics, where the PVC compound has a limited presence due to its low participation in these markets. Typically, PVC is targeted toward the construction and hardware industries, where durable plastics with good physical and mechanical properties are required—qualities that biodegradable resins do not easily provide.
Did you find our article useful? We hope you learned about the 4 differences between recycled and virgin PVC compounds. We invite you to explore our 100% virgin PVC compounds for various industries or to speak with our experts to learn more about the topic.
Sincerely. Chemical Compounds