regulatory
Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling
Mechanical: shredding, washing, extrusion preserves the polymer chain. Chemical: depolymerisation back to monomer (e.g. PET glycolysis, PE pyrolysis) produces virgin-equivalent output.
Why it matters for procurement
Understanding mechanical vs chemical recycling matters whenever you need to translate a producer's technical data sheet into a procurement specification. Misreading the term can result in pricing the wrong material or accepting a non-compliant lot.
When you submit an RFQ, naming the relevant standard or property explicitly (rather than relying on a generic equivalent) reduces re-quote cycles and accelerates routing to the supplier with the matching grade in stock.
Related terms
commercial
Virgin vs Recycled Polymer
Virgin: directly from monomer polymerisation. PCR (post-consumer recycled) and PIR (post-industrial recycled) recover end-of-life material; food-contact rPET via EFSA-listed processes.
regulatory
PPWR (EU Packaging Regulation)
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, in force from 2024. Mandates minimum recycled content (rPET 25% 2025, 30% 2030), design-for-recycling by 2030, reuse targets.