PolyCycle and PackSys Global Solve the PCR Tube Challenge

PolyCycle Innovation LLC (PolyCycle), a Closure Systems International company and domestic producer of certified, food-grade post-consumer recycled (PCR) resins, announced that its PCR HDPE resin has been tested and qualified on PackSys Global's compression molding tube equipment. The qualification includes PackSys Global's noSho tube technology and now provides squeeze tube manufacturers and brand owners in cosmetics, personal care, and oral care a validated path to meeting California's SB 54 and other state-level Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements.

PCR resin demand grows as recycled packaging mandates take hold

PCR resin and high-performance tube production have long seemed hard to reconcile. A newly qualified pairing between PolyCycle Innovation LLC and PackSys Global proves otherwise: a certified, food-grade PCR HDPE resin that performs reliably even on tubes with demanding closure designs. For manufacturers facing mounting pressure from SB 54 and EPR requirements, that’s a ready-to-use path to compliance – without compromising on quality or shelf appeal.

California’s SB 54 took effect in May 2026, with full enforcement of the state’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program beginning January 1, 2027. New Jersey is following suit with its own law on recycled packaging material. For brand owners and their suppliers, these aren’t abstract targets: missing the deadlines costs twice – in penalties and in brand reputation.

Many major food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies had already set their own targets for recycled and renewable packaging content – regulation is simply catching up to a shift the industry had already started. That this is achievable today was demonstrated by PackSys Global at Paris Packaging Week in February 2026, with a noSho tube built with more than 50% PCR content.

Leaders in PCR resin and tube equipment

PolyCycle Innovation LLC produces FDA NOL certified, PCR resins for the packaging industry, sourced through a 100% North American supply chain. A third-party Life Cycle Analysis backs the sustainability case with measurable reductions in Global Warming Potential and greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin material. The company holds GreenCircle certification and is an activator in the U.S. Plastics Pact.

PackSys Global, founded in 1969 and now part of the Brückner Group, serves customers in more than 90 countries with tube machines, complete production lines, and packing equipment – with a focus on cosmetics, oral care, medical technology, and food and beverage. The company is also behind noSho, a tube design that compression-molds an HDPE cap and eliminates the tube’s shoulder entirely.

A tested, qualified solution

PolyCycle’s PCR HDPE resin has been tested and approved on PackSys Global’s compression molding equipment for both noSho and traditional tubes – a meaningful shift for a segment that has historically treated recycled content as a tradeoff.

The qualification is especially telling for noSho: the design requires a resin that produces a consistent, reliable hinge, holds color evenly, and stays consistent batch to batch – no small feat. Change parts also let manufacturers switch between a standard cap-and-shoulder setup and noSho on the same equipment. And both companies are continuing the joint development – this qualification is a starting point, not a finish line.

On the equipment side, PackSys Global reports that PolyCycle’s resin enables more production cycles than other PCR materials it has tested, with a dependable hinge and strong color consistency. That strengthens PackSys Global’s position as a leader in sustainable material processing and opens the door to new customers specifically seeking PCR-capable tube equipment.

On the material side, PolyCycle brings FDA compliance for food-grade applications, GreenCircle certification, and superior quality control. Its North American sourcing supports short supply chains and domestic jobs, while its color-matching strength spares brand owners from compromising on shelf appearance.

“PolyCycle Innovation premium PCR has been rigorously qualified for use on PackSys Global squeeze tube equipment, demonstrating outstanding processability and performance. As a global leader in squeeze tube manufacturing technology, PackSys Global's qualification underscores PolyCycle’s ability to meet the highest standards for quality, consistency, and sustainable packaging innovation,” said Grey Moore, Vice President–Commercial, PolyCycle Innovation LLC.

“Almost every person in the world holds a tube in their hands at least once a day. As tubes quickly became mono-material and recycle-ready, the next challenge was reducing virgin material while meeting brand-owner commitments and new legislation. After extensive testing, PolyCycle’s food-grade rHDPE has proven consistent, reliable, and highly suitable for tube applications – even for demanding noSho flip-top caps. Having a domestic partner we can confidently recommend gives our customers a strong solution for both simple and complex tube requirements,” said Thomas LeFevre, President/CEO, Brückner Group USA.

For manufacturers of standard tubes, the entry point is low-friction: since PolyCycle’s resin is approved for injection-molded shoulders, adopting it doesn’t require a wholesale retooling of existing lines. Those evaluating noSho now have a validated, tested option instead of an open question.

Given the SB 54 and EPR timelines already in motion, the time to act is now – brands in cosmetics, personal care, and oral care are likely to feel the pressure first. A qualified PCR option doesn’t make the deadline less real, but it makes meeting it considerably more straightforward.