Why Our PCR Pails Vary in Grey

You may have noticed that Sika’s Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) pails have slight variations in grey colour, and this is completely intentional. It’s actually a visible sign of a more sustainable market option and the recycling process to reduce our carbon footprint.

Each shade of grey tells a story of the recycled material used in the packaging production phase. As Sika aims towards a net-zero goal by 2050, its environmental footprint extends to plastic packaging, without compromising quality or product performance. One of the ways this is being addressed is by switching to Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) materials, which gives plastic a second life while reducing carbon emissions in the process.

The grey tone of Sika PCR pails can vary from light to dark due to recycled inputs (for instance, recycled plastics from everyday items such as green milk crates, blue bread crates, or yellow yoghurt tubs) which is expected and is a visible marker of Sika’s sustainability commitment.

Sika Australia has been rethinking packaging from the ground up by repurposing everyday plastics to reduce virgin plastic use.

This move to use hybrid material means 50% - 100% of its packaging is from recycled content, which is around 20% more PCR content than many other suppliers in the industry.

This more sustainable option also makes the packaging weight a slightly lighter alternative to 100% virgin plastic, further reducing its carbon footprint.

Another positive is that the recycled material is sourced locally, right here in Australia, meaning fewer transport emissions and a reduced footprint overall.

Even with the switch to more sustainable packaging, production testing confirms that these 50% PCR pails deliver the same reliability you’d expect from the previous packaging, while continuing to provide retailers and end users the same trusted performance.
 

It’s important to note that PCR material (post-consumer recycling) differs from PIR (post-industrial recycling). PIR uses factory production waste. This means that pail manufacturers reprocess leftover resins (e.g. waste from their factory floor) back into their manufacturing equipment.

PCR content generally comes from various plastic items that have already been used by consumers, which can vary in colour and type, hence the colour variation in recycled materials.
 

Sika Australia is leading the way in sustainable packaging, being among the first in the building construction industry to implement the Australasian Recycling Label to reduce waste and emissions across the supply chain.
These benefits include:

1. Use of less virgin plastic
The new recycled packaging helps significantly reduce the demand for virgin plastic and its associated carbon emissions. This transition aligns with Australia’s National Packaging Targets, established by the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation, and endorsed by federal, state, and territorial governments.

Sika Australia is currently working to further increase the proportion of recycled content in its packaging.

2. Lowering carbon footprint
By switching to PCR packaging, this reduces CO₂ emissions and is a step towards Sika’s global Net Zero target. It is projected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 62.3 tons CO₂ equivalent annually.

3. Reducing waste
Now available in 4-litre grey pails, alongside the usual 10, 15 and 20-litre sizes, being able to choose the right size for your project helps reduce excess waste.

The new PCR packaging turns old plastics into something new and supports a more circular future. Regardless of the exterior packaging shade, every pail offers the same product, the same high quality, and the same trustedperformance you expect from Sika. Each grey tone simply shows Sika's progress in offering environmentally responsible solutions to the construction industry.