PCR strapping turns packaging compliance into an automation decision

Industrial companies are increasingly treating packaging materials as part of their resilience and automation planning. A regulatory change in the UK makes that approach more urgent: from 1 April 2027, only post-consumer recycled material is expected to count towards the 30% recycled-content threshold for the Plastic Packaging Tax. Pre-industrial recycled content will no longer qualify.

The distinction matters in high-throughput operations. Strapping is not simply a disposable input; it interacts with the equipment that tensions, seals and handles palletised loads. A compliant alternative must therefore support sustainability targets without creating instability on the packaging line or weakening transport protection.

One material for a changing regulatory landscape

Mosca has introduced a grey polypropylene strap with at least 35% PCR content. The additional margin above the UK threshold is also relevant to companies planning around the proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which is expected to set a 35% PCR requirement for transport packaging.

For businesses serving both British and European markets, adopting a material that already reaches the higher level may simplify specification and procurement. It can also reduce the risk of future packaging choices creating additional tax exposure.

Retrofitting the consumable, not the line

The product is designed for automatic and semi-automatic strapping machines and has been tested for use on Mosca equipment. This creates a practical Industry 5.0-style pathway: improve the sustainability profile of a process while preserving the installed asset base and the operator workflow.

The strap’s grey colour reflects the complexity of PCR feedstock, which may contain consumer pigments, labels and inks. Rather than indicating a performance compromise, the colour is a visible consequence of the recycling stream. Mosca states that the PP strap delivers the consistency needed for demanding transit packaging. Its PET range, with high PCR content, addresses heavier-duty applications.

Availability is planned for autumn, supported by an early trial programme. Stock will be held in Nottingham, with same-day despatch planned to help companies evaluate the material without disrupting supply continuity.