Ethafoam HRC and MRC eco-friendly foam packaging

Ethafoam HRC recycled foam packaging inserts in a cardboard box

While using Ethafoam provides many benefits for your business, switching to Ethafoam HRC or MRC allows you to use considerably more eco-friendly foam packaging.

Ethafoam HRC (High Recycled Content) features at least 65% pre-consumer recycled material, whilst Ethafoam MRC (Maximum Recycled Content) is 100% recycled. Both are closed-cell polyethylene foams that provide excellent cushioning performance. The material can create eco-friendly foam packaging products such as end caps, inserts, and pads. Read more

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Eco rating

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Recycled content

Lightweight

Size optimised

Detailed description

About Ethafoam HRC and MRC

Ethafoam HRC and MRC grades of packaging foam are great options if your customers demand more sustainable packaging.

Featuring 65% and 100% recycled content, respectively, Ethafoam HRC and MRC satisfy consumer demand for eco-friendly packaging. They are also not subject to fees as part of the UK plastic packaging tax.

An additional environmental benefit of using Ethafoam is that minimal material is required to provide suitable cushioning performance. This feature reduces outer pack sizes, minimising transport costs and emissions.

Ethafoam also eliminates the environmental costs of disposing of damaged goods and the additional transport requirements of shipping returns and replacement products by preventing damage in transit.

Eco-friendly foam packaging

Ethafoam MRC and HRC can create a wide range of sustainable foam packaging.

While this includes various single-trip applications, such as end caps to protect large consumer goods or industrial parts or components, its rapid recovery from multiple compressions is also suitable for reusable packaging applications.

The foam material is also resistant to creep under load (i.e. it will recover its original volume), absorbs shock and vibration, and is resistant to water too.

Benefits of Ethafoam HRC/MRC

The key benefits of Ethafoam HRC and MRC are as follows:

Ethafoam HRC features at least 65% recycled content.
Ethafoam MRC is 100% pre-consumer recycled material.
All Ethafoam grades offer excellent cushioning performance.
Quick recovery from multiple compressions makes it suitable across multiple uses.
Resistant to creep under load and water, plus shock and vibration absorbency.
Helps to eliminate transit damage and associated costs.
Minimal material use is required to achieve optimum protection.
Allows reduction in pack sizes, minimising transport costs and emissions.
Low cost compared with many alternative foams.
Not subject to the UK Plastic Packaging Tax.

Environmental rating

Lightweight material

All Ethafoam grades are lightweight, minimising CO2 emissions from transportation.

Recycled content

Ethafoam HRC contains at least 65% recycled content, whilst Ethafoam MRC is 100% recycled material.

Reusable

Ethafoam HRC and MRC are suitable for both single trip and reusable packaging applications.

Size optimised

Ethafoam helps minimise outer pack sizes through providing excellent performance to material ratio.

Low density Polyethylene

Ethafoam MRC and HRC are manufactured using low density Polyethylene material.

Questions and answers

What is Ethafoam HRC?

Ethafoam HRC (the HRC denoting “High Recycled Content”) is a packaging-grade foam containing a minimum of 65% pre-consumer recycled resin content. It provides the usual benefits and qualities of standard Ethafoam PE foam.

What is Ethafoam MRC?

For Ethafoam MRC, the MRC stands for Max Recycled Content. The material uses 100% pre-consumer recycled material. As with Ethafoam HRC, the recycled content does not affect the material’s performance.

What type of plastic is Ethafoam?

Ethafoam is a low-density polyethylene (LDPE 4). It is a closed-cell foam, allowing it to handle multiple shocks, impacts and compressions. It is produced by heating polyethylene to its melting point before introducing a blowing agent, causing it to expand approximately 30 times in volume.

What are Ethafoam HRC and MRC used for?

Like standard Ethafoam, HRC and MRC grades are ideal for manufacturing protective packaging. It provides cushioning protection for your products when added to outer corrugated packaging or cases as end caps, lining or inserts.

Are Ethafoam HRC and MRC subject to the UK plastic packaging tax?

Both Ethafoam HRC (65%) and MRC (100%) have more recycled content than the minimum requirement (30%) to avoid charges levied as part of the UK plastic packaging tax legislation.

Will Ethafoam HRC/MRC help me offer more eco-friendly packaging?

The likelihood is that your customers will be keen (or even demanding) to have more eco-friendly foam packaging. Ethafoam HRC and MRC both help to improve the sustainability of your packaging. However, you should also consider other options, such as cellulose-based Fibrease.

Pricing and delivery

Ethafoam HRC and MRC prices

GWP Protective are one of the UK’s leading independent Ethfoam MRC and HRC converters. With over 30 years of experience, we can help you ensure that any items you ship have the optimum protection during transit.

All of the sustainable foam packaging you source from GWP is manufactured bespoke to your exact requirements. The precise size, shape and level of protection are all engineered into any recycled foam packaging your purchase.

This customisation level means it is impossible to list specific pricing on this site.

Free quotes and advice

However, you can request a free, no-obligation quote on any Ethafoam packaging you require. And as GWP tailor this to exactly what you need, it is always exceptionally competitive. No paying for material or features you do not need.

You can also ask for impartial advice on the best recyclable or recycled foam for your specific requirements. As GWP supplies perhaps the broadest range of recycled options, wood-based foams and even foam alternatives, you can be confident you are getting honest, genuine advice on the best solution for your specific application.