We are commonly asked, “Are VCI packaging products made of recycled materials?” As sustainability and environmental compliance become higher priorities for manufacturers, many companies want to understand how corrosion protection solutions align with their sustainability goals. ZERUST®/EXCOR® offer both virgin and recycled material options, allowing customers to balance performance, regulatory requirements, and environmental responsibility without compromising corrosion protection.
While many traditional ZERUST® VCI packaging products use high-quality virgin materials to ensure consistency and corrosion protection, ZERUST® also provides multiple solutions that incorporate recycled plastic content without sacrificing performance.
Explore ZERUST® corrosion protection solutions
Discover VCI packaging, recycled-content films, rust preventatives, and moisture control products designed for industrial corrosion protection.
Are VCI packaging products made of recycled materials or virgin resin?
VCI packaging products made of recycled materials or virgin resin depend on the specific product. Furthermore, ZERUST® designs its VCI packaging portfolio to support a wide range of corrosion protection and sustainability goals.
Manufacturers select virgin resin VCI films for critical applications that require tight tolerances, optical clarity, or specific mechanical properties. At the same time, ZERUST® offers recycled-content alternatives for customers seeking to reduce their environmental footprint.
Are VCI packaging products made with PCR content?
Yes. ZERUST® ICT®510-PCR30 VCI Film best answers the need for VCI packaging products made with post-consumer recycled content.
This product incorporates 30 percent post-consumer recycled polyethylene while maintaining the same corrosion protection performance as traditional ZERUST® VCI films. It allows manufacturers to reduce reliance on virgin plastics without compromising metal protection during storage or transport.
Which ZERUST® VCI films use recycled materials?
ZERUST® now manufactures several VCI films with at least 10 percent recycled plastic content. These products help support sustainability initiatives while delivering proven corrosion protection.
Examples include:
- ZERUST® ICT®510-C
- ZERUST® ICT®510C-AN
- ZERUST® ICT®510-OPS
- ZERUST® ICT®510-SM
- ZERUST® ICT®510-SRK
- ZERUST® ICT®520-CB1
- ZERUST® ICT®520-FD
- ZERUST® ICT®520-HS
Each formulation delivers consistent vapor corrosion inhibitor release, mechanical strength, and long-term protection.
Are VCI films made of recycled materials as part of a circular economy?
Yes, VCI packaging products made of recycled materials are only one part of ZERUST®’s broader sustainability strategy. Furthermore, through the ZeCycle Recycling Program, businesses can recycle used ZERUST® VCI packaging after its service life.
This program supports circular economy principles by recovering used materials, reducing landfill waste, and helping companies meet corporate sustainability and environmental compliance objectives.
Are VCI films made of recycled materials suitable for industrial use?
Yes, VCI packaging products made from recycled materials are still suitable for demanding industrial environments, which is a key concern for manufacturers. As a result, ZERUST® validates recycled-content VCI packaging through internal testing to ensure corrosion protection performance matches application requirements.
Manufacturers use these materials across automotive, heavy manufacturing, metal fabrication, and export packaging applications where durability and sustainability matter.
ZERUST® corrosion protection solutions by industry
See how ZERUST® VCI packaging and recycled-content films are used across automotive, heavy manufacturing, metal fabrication, and other industrial applications.
Are VCI films made of recycled materials right for every application?
Not always. VCI packaging products made of recycled materials depend on the specific corrosion risks, storage duration, and regulatory requirements. Additonally, in some cases, virgin resin VCI packaging remains the best choice.
As a result, ZERUST® technical experts help customers evaluate the correct balance between sustainability goals and corrosion protection performance for each application.
Need help selecting the right VCI packaging solution?
ZERUST® corrosion experts can help you evaluate recycled-content VCI packaging options, performance requirements, and sustainability goals for your application.
ICT®510-C VCI Weapon Bags are specifically designed to protect weapons, including handguns, rifles, as well as accessories, against corrosion, dust, sand, and humidity damage in shipping, storage, and between operations.
ICT® VCI Poly Bags provide convenient and proven protection against corrosion damage for metals in shipping and storage. In addition, they are available in ferrous, non-ferrous, anti-tarnish, and multimetal protection types and various zipper, flat, and gusseted sizes.
ICT® VCI Tote Covers are a convenient packaging product made of ZERUST® VCI film with an elastic band designed to provide a secure fit over totes and odd-shaped or protruding parts such as hub assemblies, protecting against corrosion, dirt, dust, smoke, and other contaminants while keeping them visible and easy to access.
ICT®510-C Ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and targeted protection against rust damage for ferrous metals, such as steel, iron, and cast iron in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Multimetal Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for ferrous and non-ferrous metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C Non-ferrous VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against corrosion damage for non-ferrous metals such as aluminum, copper, brass, and bronze, in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-C VCI Film provides cost-effective and versatile protection against rust and corrosion damage for metal assets in shipping and storage. Additionally, it’s available in ferrous, non-ferrous, and multimetal formulations, as well as various-sized rolls, sheets, tubing, and bags.
ICT®510-C VCI Tubing provides versatile protection against corrosion, as the tubing offers a tailored packaging solution for parts of various sizes or long metal assets metals in shipping, storage, and work-in-progress.
ICT®510-CLHD is a high density VCI Film that’s lightweight yet strong packaging solution. Furthermore, it’s specifically designed for interleaving, laminating, and serving as a superior alternative to VCI kraft paper during shipment, storage, or work-in-progress.
ICT®510-MSF VCI Masking Film is a pressure-sensitive adhesive film that provides protection from scratches and dust, as well as corrosion. In addition, the film removes cleanly and does not leave a residue.
ICT®510-OPS VCI Shrink Film is an 8-mil, high-strength shrink film integrated with ZERUST® Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) technology and UV stabilizers, designed specifically for the long-term outdoor preservation of large assets.
ICT®510-SK VCI Skin Film is a polyethylene skin film containing Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors that secures items tightly to a rigid substrate through a vacuum bonding process. As a result, ensuring that fragile items are maintained in a fixed, organized, and visible position during shipment and storage.
ICT®510-SRK Film is polyethylene shrink film impregnated with Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors that shrinks tightly around the item when subjected to heat, providing a contoured fit and VCI protection.
ICT®510-SM Stretch VCI Film is a high-quality cast packaging film that wraps pallet loads, bundles, large items, and irregularly shaped metal objects during storage and shipping. ideal for use with machine-stretch applications, and smaller rolls are also available for hand-stretch applications.
