Recyclate is the material that comes out of a recycling process and is ready to be used as raw material again. For plastics, it covers flakes, agglomerate and, most commonly, recycled granules.
The term is widely used in Europe and in technical standards, often with the origin attached: post-consumer recyclate (PCR) or post-industrial recyclate (PIR). Recyclate quality is described by polymer purity, melt flow index, colour, odour, moisture, mechanical properties and the level of contamination. High-quality recyclate can replace virgin plastic partly or fully in the same application; lower-quality recyclate goes into less demanding products. The share of recyclate in a finished product is its recycled content.
