Pre-consumer vs. Post-consumer
March 31, 2008 by Allison Boyer
Filed under Business
All recyclables are not created equally.
One of the best ways to go green with your small business is to purchase products that are made from recycled materials. There are a number of companies specializing in just this (for example, check out The Green Office). However, when you’re reading the package, it is important to know that “recycled” doesn’t always mean the same thing.
Pre-consumer: If a product is made with pre-consumer recyclables, it is made with waste from a manufacturing plant where they make products from new material.
Post-consumer: If a product is made with post-consumer recyclables, it is made with materials that have been recycled by the consumer.
Recycled: If there is nothing specified, the product is likely made with a combination of pre- and post-consumer recycled materials.
So which is best? Obviously, post-consumer is the greenest material because the material has gotten the most use possible. However, remember that NO recycling is bad!
Picture by scol22 at stock.xchng.
Thank you Every Joe for describing the differences between pre and post-consumer recycling. Our company, Looptworks, is an apparel company that specializes in utilizing pre-consumer excess in all of our garments. We go to factories over seas, purchase fabrics and trims that would otherwise be thrown in the landfill or incinerated and make one of a kind garments for both men and women. Check out our collection and leave comments about our mission at http://www.looptworks.com.