90% PCR-based polycarbonate for travel suitcase by Covestro
Last update on May 5, 2026
Manufacturers evaluating high post-consumer recycled (PCR) content polycarbonate for consumer goods applications – including luggage, electronics, and home appliances – can now review a commercially available grade delivering up to 90 percent PCR content.
Covestro's Makrolon® R90 has been used by Chinese luggage brand NINETYGO in its R-GO Coffee Journey Series suitcase, launched globally at CHINAPLAS 2026 in Shanghai. According to Covestro, this is the first time its Makrolon® R90 grade has been applied at this PCR content level in a commercially launched consumer product at global scale.
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Claims to reduce shell carbon footprint by over 67 percent
The suitcase shell is produced from Makrolon® R90, with PCR material sourced from end-of-life polycarbonate water barrels. According to Covestro, the company has collaborated with partners since 2020 to recycle approximately one million 19-liter polycarbonate barrels annually, converting them into PCR material for consumer goods, electronics, and home appliances.
Covestro states that a 20-inch shell produced from this grade reduces the shell carbon footprint by over 67 percent1 compared to a previous version produced with a lower proportion of circular materials, based on the company's own data.
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In terms of material performance, Covestro reports that Makrolon® R90 maintains impact resistance at room temperature and in conditions down to -20°C, with processing characteristics described as comparable to virgin polycarbonate grades. The material is third-party certified for PCR content, according to Covestro. Color versatility is noted by the company, with the Coffee Journey Series produced in three colorways – reflecting the aesthetic flexibility the company associates with the grade for consumer-facing applications.
“The circular economy must prove its value in markets. The global launch of this new suitcase shows recycled materials can meet expectations for both performance and design,” said Lily Wang, president of Engineering Plastics at Covestro. “We are pleased to deepen our long-standing collaboration with NINETYGO and to help more Chinese brands differentiate globally through sustainability.”
“NINETYGO is committed to advancing sustainable travel worldwide. Today’s consumers expect not only quality and design, but also environmental responsibility,” said Alisa Shang, CEO of Runmi Technology, which owns NINETYGO. “Together with Covestro, we are bringing to market a new generation of PCR-based luggage that combines performance with sustainability, while strengthening our global competitiveness.”
Aligns with proposed EU PFAS restrictions
For manufacturers assessing market access requirements in international markets, particularly the European Union, Covestro notes that environmental and material compliance requirements are tightening. The company states that Makrolon® R90 contains non-intentionally added PFAS (NIA-PFAS) and is described as aligning with proposed – not yet enacted – EU restrictions on PFAS.
Additionally, Covestro references the EU's Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) as part of the evolving regulatory framework raising market entry requirements for consumer goods. Manufacturers should verify applicable requirements by product category and target market, as both the PFAS restriction framework and ESPR are advancing through the European legislative process at different stages.
Covestro and NINETYGO first collaborated on a limited-edition PCR polycarbonate suitcase in 2021. The global commercial launch of the Coffee Journey Series represents an expansion of that collaboration to full-scale production.
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1 Based on NINETYGO internal calculations.