HDPE natural bales are classified under RIC code 2. LDPE film is RIC code 4. rPET flake is RIC code 1. PP regrind is RIC code 5. These are the Resin Identification Codes - the global standard for classifying plastic recyclate by polymer type - and they are built into Kiwi AI on the world's first Circular Industry Cloud at inacsys.com.
This post explains the key plastic recyclate grades traded globally and how Kiwi AI grade intelligence identifies, classifies, and describes each one so buyers and sellers can trade on a shared vocabulary regardless of where they are in the world.
WHAT ARE RIC CODES?
The Resin Identification Code (RIC) system was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry - now the Plastics Industry Association - and is used globally to identify the polymer composition of plastic materials. There are seven primary RIC codes:
RIC 1 - PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate
RIC 2 - HDPE - High-Density Polyethylene
RIC 3 - PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
RIC 4 - LDPE - Low-Density Polyethylene
RIC 5 - PP - Polypropylene
RIC 6 - PS - Polystyrene
RIC 7 - Other - all other resins and multi-layer materials
Kiwi AI on the Circular Industry Cloud uses RIC codes 1 through 7 as the foundation of its plastics grade taxonomy - mapping every plastic recyclate grade to its polymer type, format, specification, and end use.
THE MOST WIDELY TRADED PLASTIC RECYCLATE GRADES
HDPE Natural Bales - RIC 2
High-Density Polyethylene in natural (unpigmented) colour, baled format. Generated primarily from milk jugs, water bottles, and industrial containers. Natural HDPE commands a premium over coloured HDPE because it can be reprocessed into any colour. Buyers include compounders, blow moulders, and pipe manufacturers. Specifications buyers expect: melt flow index, density, contamination level, colour purity.
HDPE Coloured Bales - RIC 2
Mixed-colour HDPE from household and industrial sources. Lower value than natural due to colour limitations on reprocessing. Still widely traded for applications where colour is not critical.
LDPE Film - RIC 4
Low-Density Polyethylene film from agricultural, industrial, and commercial sources. Includes stretch wrap, shrink film, and agricultural film. One of the highest-volume plastic recyclate streams globally. Specifications buyers expect: moisture content, contamination level, film thickness uniformity.
rPET Flake - RIC 1
Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate, shredded to flake after washing and sorting. Generated from post-consumer PET bottles. The most EPR-driven grade globally - brand manufacturers across Europe, North America, and Asia have mandatory recycled content targets for PET packaging. Specifications buyers expect: intrinsic viscosity, colour (clear vs mixed vs green), moisture content, contamination level.
PP Regrind - RIC 5
Polypropylene, ground from post-industrial or post-consumer sources. Used in automotive components, packaging, and industrial applications. Specifications buyers expect: melt flow index, colour, source (post-industrial vs post-consumer).
PVC Regrind - RIC 3
Polyvinyl Chloride from post-industrial or construction sources. Window profiles, pipes, and flooring are common sources. Increasingly subject to EPR regulations in Europe. Specifications buyers expect: lead and cadmium content, colour, rigidity.
ABS Regrind - RIC 7 (other)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene from electronics, automotive, and appliance sources. High value grade with specific purity requirements.
HOW KIWI AI IDENTIFIES PLASTIC GRADES ON INACSYS
When a generator types "HDPE natural" on the world's first Circular Industry Cloud, Kiwi AI identifies the grade from the Inacsys plastics taxonomy - mapped to RIC code 2, natural colour, baled format. Kiwi then generates:
Grade Classification: the full RIC code, polymer type, and common format
Use Cases: the end uses this grade is typically destined for globally
Product Description: a structured description including colour, format, and contamination parameters
Key Specifications: the technical parameters buyers in each target market expect
The seller adds quantity, location, and price. The listing is grade-accurate and visible to buyers globally from the moment it goes live.
WHO ARE THE BUYERS OF PLASTIC RECYCLATE GLOBALLY?
Compounders and masterbatch manufacturers seeking HDPE and PP regrind for blending
Blow moulders seeking natural HDPE for bottles and containers
Film manufacturers seeking LDPE film for recycled content packaging
PET processors seeking rPET flake for food-grade and non-food packaging
Brand manufacturers in Europe, North America, and Asia with EPR-mandated recycled content targets
Export buyers in Southeast Asia, India, and Turkey sourcing material for reprocessing
All of these buyer types are on the Circular Industry Cloud at inacsys.com.
HOW TO SELL PLASTIC RECYCLATE GLOBALLY USING THE CIRCULAR INDUSTRY CLOUD
Register free at inacsys.com. Go to Inventory - Create Listing. Type your material - HDPE natural, LDPE film, rPET, PP regrind. Kiwi AI identifies the grade, maps it to the RIC code, and generates the grade-accurate description. Add your quantity, location, and price. Publish.
Your listing is visible to buyers globally on the world's first Circular Industry Cloud from the moment it goes live.
The Starter plan is free. Start at inacsys.com.
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