At Shaklee, we’re committed to finding new opportunities to embrace circularity, reduce our impact, and take sustainability to the next level. We were the first company in the world to be certified Climate Neutral, meaning that we’ve completely offset our CO2 emissions, resulting in a net zero impact on the environment. But our efforts didn’t stop there. We hold ourselves to the highest environmental standards and renew this commitment every year. See Our Pledge for the Planet for a sustainability report of our accomplishments last year and our new 2023 sustainability goals. Shaklee has always been rooted in nature, and we do everything in our power to protect it—from how we source ingredients to how we run our company.
This past year we focused on minimizing our use of plastic, reducing packaging and shipping weight, and sourcing recycled or recyclable materials to continue to cut down on waste and emissions. One of the ways we were able to achieve these goals was through PCR (post-consumer recycled) material. Here is how using PCR plastic in our packaging has helped us embrace circularity (the practice of renewing and reusing resources rather than letting them go to waste) and continue to reduce our impact on the environment.
What is PCR?
PCR stands for post-consumer recycled material or post-consumer resin. PCR materials are made with plastics that have been used as intended in another consumer item but are then recycled and reprocessed. Recycled plastics are shredded into small pellets and melted down to form resin that is then used to create something new like bottles, scoops, bags, or films.
What are the benefits of PCR and how is it different from other materials?
Post-consumer recycled material is a sustainable packaging option with some key benefits. PCR plastic is made from a mixture of plastics that have already been used, which means that it’s less wasteful and reduces the amount of raw material used. This is different from other sustainable packaging options like compostable material and recyclable plastic. Recyclable plastic must be made from one material and not a mixture of different plastics to be considered 100% recyclable. On the other hand, compostable packaging is made from material that breaks down completely and leaves no residue. While these are all great packaging options that help to create products with the planet in mind, it’s harder to ensure that recyclable plastic packaging and compostable packaging are actually recycled or composted by their users. PCR packaging offers a sustainable solution that doesn’t rely on the consumer.
Is PCR safe to use?
Yes! Post-consumer recycled plastic is able to match the quality, durability, and functionality of new plastic. PCR packaging can also block light, liquids, and gases as intended.
How does PCR help create a circular economy?
The use of post-consumer recycled plastics helps us create a circular economy, a sustainability model that focuses on re-use and eliminating waste. Circularity means that materials we use are renewed and given a second life rather than wasted. It also means that less virgin plastic (new and non-recycled plastic) is used in the process. The combination of reducing waste and reducing the use of new materials helps us reduce our carbon footprint and our impact on the environment.
How does Shaklee use PCR?
Currently we are transitioning to post-consumer recycled plastic to make the powder scoops that come with Life Shake™. This switch alone has helped us keep the equivalent of 510,000 bottle caps out of landfills.* Also, our new line of Shaklee Body Care products uses packaging that contains 37–77% post-consumer recycled plastic. As we continue to develop and launch new products down the line, we are committed to investing in more sustainable plastic choices to reduce the use of virgin plastic.
Embracing circularity and reducing impact
At Shaklee we believe the planet deserves to be protected. We’ve always held ourselves to our highest environmental standards, totally offsetting our CO2 emissions and making sure that impact on the environment is a solid net zero. By 2025 our goal is to have 100% of all packaging and shipping material be recyclable, reusable, refillable, compostable, or made with PCR materials. Learn more about our sustainability goals for this year and the future in Our Pledge for the Planet.
*Over 51K total scoops converted as per this X 10 bottle cap estimate. One Shaklee PCR Scoop is equivalent in weight to ten 0.63 g bottle caps.
