When replacing an old remote control or set-top box at home, most of us tend to focus first on the features and design of the new product. However, we rarely stop to think about what materials the previous device was made of, or what happens to it after it is discarded.

So, what if the plastic from these discarded electronics could be reused as a material for a new product?

Today, let’s take a closer look at PCR ABS (Post-Consumer Recycled ABS), a material that gives new life to discarded plastic.

From ABS to PCR ABS: A Shift in Materials

To better understand PCR ABS, it’s helpful to first take a look at ABS itself.

ABS, short for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is a plastic known for its strong impact resistance, heat resistance and excellent processability. Its ability to be molded into a wide range of shapes and colors makes it one of the most widely used plastics in everyday life, found in home appliances, electronics, automotive interior and exterior parts and even toys.

Building on ABS, a material deeply embedded in our everyday lives, PCR ABS introduces the concept of recycling.

Once discarded by consumers, used plastic is collected, crushed and processed into small raw material pellets. These recycled pellets are then blended with conventional ABS to create PCR ABS, which can be used in new products. In other words, plastic that has served its purpose can become the starting point of another product.

How Is PCR ABS Made?

At first glance, turning discarded plastic into a usable material may seem simple. In reality, it requires a highly sophisticated process involving multiple steps.

First, end-of-life products such as TVs, computers and refrigerators are collected and sent to recycling centers. These collected items are then shredded and processed into pellet form, an early-stage of raw material. The crushed pieces are then cleaned thoroughly.

The next step is sorting. Since various types of plastics are often mixed together, they must be separated using differences in density, infrared detection and electrostatic properties. At this stage, accurately identifying and isolating ABS is critical, as the quality of this step directly affects the quality of the final material.

Finally, the separated recycled raw material is blended with conventional ABS at an optimal ratio to produce PCR ABS suitable for use in finished products.

What’s important here is not simply the act of “reusing” materials. Even recycled materials must meet quality standards comparable to conventional ABS to be applied in real-world products. Leveraging this advanced technology, LG Chem’s PCR ABS has advanced to a level that is difficult to distinguish from conventional plastic products to the naked eye. LG Chem continues to focus on developing materials that offer both quality and performance customers can rely on.

The Technology Behind Effective Recycling

PCR ABS is produced through ‘mechanical recycling’, a process that reuses plastic by changing its form without altering its intrinsic properties.

This method is highly influenced by the condition of the raw material. When different types of plastics are mixed together, the resulting material can vary significantly in both appearance and performance. That is why clean separation and accurate sorting at the earliest stage are so important. This is also why the sorting process described earlier plays such a critical role.

Another challenge lies in color. Because recycled plastics often come from mixed-color sources, they tend to result in darker shades. However, for products such as home appliances and cosmetic packaging, where appearance is a key factor – bright and uniform colors are essential.

To overcome this limitation, LG Chem has continuously advanced its color implementation technology. As a result, the company successfully developed and commercialized white PCR ABS, which had previously been difficult to achieve. This represents a significant technological milestone, significantly expanding the range of products that can incorporate recycled materials.

Bringing Change into Everyday Life

Building on this technological expertise, LG Chem’s PCR ABS is already being applied across a wide range of products.

In collaboration with LG Uplus, LG Chem developed an eco-friendly remote control using PCR ABS made from discarded plastic. By replacing the conventional material used in remote controls with PCR ABS, it is expected to reduce plastic usage by approximately 11 tons per year and cut carbon emissions by around 3.3 tons annually. This is equivalent to planting 500 pine trees.

Beyond remote controls, PCR ABS is expanding into everyday products, such as TVs and refrigerators. At the same time, as demand for eco-friendly materials continues to grow in design-sensitive applications, such as cosmetic packaging, the range of potential applications for PCR ABS is becoming increasingly diverse.

Plastic that has completed one role can now become the beginning of another product. This kind of change is becoming increasingly connected to our daily lives.

The next time you come across products, why not look beyond their design and functionality and take a moment to consider the journey of their materials – and how resources can be reimagined into new value through circularity?

Learn more about PCR ABS 👉 https://www.lgchem.com/product-detail/abs

※Some images in this content were generated using AI.