GCR
GCR is a Spanish sustainable plastics manufacturer producing recycled polyolefins (CICLIC, CICLICNXT) and mineral masterbatches (GRANIC, BIOGRANIC, RGRANIC) for brand owners and plastic processors across packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLa Bisbal, Spain
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GCR does
GCR (legal name GESTORA CATALANA DE RESIDUOS, S.L.U., operating as GCR Plastic Solutions) is a privately held Spanish sustainable plastics manufacturer founded in 2001 and headquartered in La Bisbal del Penedès, Catalonia. The company develops and produces high-performance recycled polyolefins and mineral masterbatches sold under the CICLIC, CICLICNXT, GRANIC, BIOGRANIC, and RGRANIC brands to brand owners and plastic processors across packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture.
GCR's technology stack centers on proprietary mechanical recycling processes — including patented low-energy recycling, hot washing, advanced sorting, and extrusion — combined with material science capabilities in compatibilizer chemistry, odour control, and customized masterbatch formulations. The company operates two production facilities in Catalonia totaling 500,000+ mT/year of capacity (425,000 mT/y of compounds and 100,000 mT/y of certified post-consumer recycled materials), and has committed €100 million to expand advanced recycling facilities across Europe in anticipation of EU PPWR mandates. Certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 14067, ISCC PLUS, RecyClass, and OCS.
The business model is B2B enterprise sales: GCR sells materials on a quote-based, volume-tiered pricing model through direct account managers and technical sales specialists, supplemented by regional distribution partnerships (e.g., ESVAMA in the Nordics) and an Innovation Hub that co-develops customized applications with customers. Revenue is generated primarily from one-time material sales across the CICLIC, CICLICNXT, and GRANIC product lines, with ancillary revenue from application development services. Key named customers and partners include ExxonMobil, Crocco, SCEA, CurTec, Selene, and RIGK GmbH. The ultimate parent is GNO CORPORATE, S.L., with GCR structured as part of a group of ten wholly-owned operating subsidiaries spanning recycling, compounding, polymers, logistics, and research.
GCR firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GCR
- Legal name
- GESTORA CATALANA DE RESIDUOS, S.L.U.
- Website
- https://gcrplasticsolutions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- GCR is a Spanish sustainable plastics manufacturer producing recycled polyolefins (CICLIC, CICLICNXT) and mineral masterbatches (GRANIC, BIOGRANIC, RGRANIC) for brand owners and plastic processors across packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GCR industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Recycled Plastics and Sustainable Polymer Compounds
- NAICS
- Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing (32521)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds) (IMANAMAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins) (IMANAAAH), Bio-Based & Biodegradable Compounds (PLA/PHA/Starch Blends) (IMANABAF)
Keywords
Where GCR is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Bisbal
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
GCR business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Recycled Polyolefins Sales: GCR generates revenue primarily through the sale of recycled plastic materials including CICLIC recycled polyolefins (rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, rHDPE) and CICLICNXT PCR polyolefins. These materials serve brand owners and plastic processors across multiple industries including packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture.
- Mineral Masterbatch Sales: Revenue from GRANIC, BIOGRANIC, and RGRANIC mineral masterbatch product lines. These specialty compounds combine mineral concentrates with carrier resins to enhance plastic product performance while reducing material costs and carbon footprint.
- Innovation & Application Development Services: GCR provides co-creation and application development services through its Innovation Hub, helping partners develop customized sustainable plastic solutions with technical support from concept through mass production.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
GCR product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GCR develops and produces high-performance sustainable plastic materials, including recycled polyolefins (CICLIC® and CICLICNXT® lines of rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, rHDPE) sourced from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, and mineral masterbatch products (GRANIC®, BIOGRANIC®, RGRANIC®) combining ultrafine minerals with carrier resins. These materials serve brand owners and plastic processors in packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture applications.
Product overview
GCR develops and produces sustainable plastic solutions including recycled polyolefins and mineral masterbatches. The product portfolio consists of CICLIC® (high-quality recycled and recyclable polyolefins including rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, rHDPE), CICLICNXT® (certified PCR polyolefins at industrial scale), and GRANIC® product family (advanced mineral masterbatches including GRANIC®, BIOGRANIC® for compostable applications, and RGRANIC® for recycled-based formulations). These solutions enable up to 90% CO2 savings compared to virgin polymers and up to 70% polymer replacement in final plastic content.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CICLIC®: High-quality line of recycled and recyclable polyolefins sourced from pre-consumer and post-consumer (PCR) waste, including rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, and rHDPE.
- CICLICNXT®
- GRANIC®
- BIOGRANIC®
- RGRANIC®
Products and services
- CICLIC® Recycled Polyolefins High-quality line of recycled and recyclable polyolefins (rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, rHDPE) sourced from pre-consumer and post-consumer (PCR) waste, enabling up to 90% CO2 savings versus virgin polymers for brand owners and plastic processors across packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture.
- CICLICNXT® PCR Polyolefins at Scale Next-level certified post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyolefins (rPP, rPE) engineered to deliver virgin-like performance at industrial scale for brand owners and top-tier converters, with 100,000 mT/year capacity and certifications under ISO 14067, ISCC PLUS, and RecyClass for demanding non-food contact applications.
- GRANIC® Advanced Mineral Masterbatch High-performance sustainable mineral masterbatch combining ultrafine minerals (calcium carbonate, talc, silica) with high-quality carrier resins (PE, PP, PS, recycled plastic resins), enabling up to 70% polymer replacement in final plastic content, up to 50% CO2 emissions reduction, improved mechanical properties, and food contact approval.
- BIOGRANIC® Bio Mineral Masterbatch Bio-based and/or biodegradable mineral masterbatch designed to optimize film performance in compostable applications, providing the most environmentally friendly mineral masterbatch solution within the GRANIC family.
- RGRANIC® Recycled-Based Masterbatch Recycled-based masterbatch combining mineral concentrates with high-quality recycled carrier resins (rPP and rPE) sourced from CICLIC® recycled polyolefin grades, delivering performance consistency expected from virgin polymer carriers while maximizing recycled content.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% CO2 reduction compared to virgin polymers using CICLIC recycled polyolefins
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use GCR
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
GCR technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GCR partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ESVAMAcoreDistribution partnership to bring CICLIC recycled polyolefins and GRANIC mineral masterbatch to plastic processors across the Nordic market, including Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.
- PROSPERminorGCR supports PROSPER's latest milestone in bioplastic sorting and recycling, contributing mechanical recycling and material validation expertise to help develop circular routes for bio-based plastics.
- ExxonMobilcoreCollaboration on high-performance mono PE liquid pouch achieving 50% PCR content with recyclability-by-design, demonstrating virgin-quality performance in flexible packaging applications.
- RIGK GmbHcoreGCR and RIGK GmbH completed an advanced industrial recycling trial in late February at GCR's facility in Europe, testing post-consumer packaging from Germany's PAMIRA system and GVÖ scheme. The trials successfully removed volatile substances and achieved purity levels previously considered unattainable. Several leading European industrial packaging converters have committed to integrating these validated recycled materials into their production.
- CroccocorePartner in developing high-performance liquid packaging solutions with 50% PCR content, excellent sealability, and packaging integrity.
- CurTeccoreValidated CICLICNXT rHDPE for rigid packaging achieving up to 70% PCR content in blow molding and 50% in injection molding applications.
- SelenecoreCollaboration achieving 60% PCR content in FFS tubes with 25% output increase through stable, high-output processing.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GCR competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BASF: Diversified chemical manufacturer with significant recycled polymer and circular materials offerings across packaging and automotive — broader portfolio than GCR but overlapping end markets and sustainability messaging.
- Veolia: Global waste-management and recycling services group producing PCR plastics from collected feedstock across Europe; partially integrated competitor sourcing/supplying recycled polyolefins to the same brand-owner base.
- Eastman Chemical: Chemical recycling operator (molecular recycling, methanolysis) that competes for recycled-polymer demand in packaging, broadening the recycling-options competitive set GCR faces from mechanically recycled polyolefins.
- ExxonMobil: Global polyolefins producer operating PCR polyolefin programs and currently a GCR collaboration partner on mono PE pouches; broader incumbent in virgin and recycled polyolefins that competes at scale for the same customers.
- TotalEnergies: Integrated energy and petrochemicals group with growing recycled polymers portfolio (e.g., certified circular PP/PE), offering broader reach into brand-owner packaging customers alongside its virgin scale.
Direct peers
- LyondellBasell: Major polyolefin producer with CirculenRecover range of PCR polyolefins targeting brand-owner packaging applications — directly competitive with GCR's CICLICNXT and CICLIC product lines.
- INEOS: INEOS Recycl-IN product line of recycled polyolefins serving packaging converters; competes head-to-head with GCR in PCR polyolefin supply across European brand owners.
- Borealis: Borcycle portfolio of mechanically and chemically recycled polyolefins serving flexible packaging, rigid packaging, and automotive markets — directly overlapping GCR's recycled polyolefin go-to-market.
- SABIC: Operates the TRUCIRCLE program offering certified circular/PCR polyolefins for packaging and consumer goods, mirroring GCR's positioning around certified post-consumer recycled polyolefins.
Emerging players
- Carbios: French biotech developing enzymatic PET recycling technology that addresses a different polymer stream but signals the emerging alternative-recycling competition pushing against mechanical recyclers like GCR on quality and end-use reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GCR social profiles
Digital presenceGCR compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
GCR financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GCR leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
GCR subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
GCR funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GCR M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GCR
What does GCR do?
GCR develops and produces high-performance sustainable plastic materials, including recycled polyolefins (CICLIC® and CICLICNXT® lines of rPP, rLDPE, rLLDPE, rHDPE) sourced from pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, and mineral masterbatch products (GRANIC®, BIOGRANIC®, RGRANIC®) combining ultrafine minerals with carrier resins. These materials serve brand owners and plastic processors in packaging, automotive, construction, and agriculture applications.
Is GCR a public or private company?
GCR is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GCR founded?
GCR was founded in 2001. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is GCR based?
GCR is headquartered in La Bisbal, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does GCR make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Recycled Polyolefins Sales are the primary driver. The others are mineral Masterbatch Sales and innovation & Application Development Services.
Who are GCR's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BASF, Veolia, Eastman Chemical, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies. Direct peers are LyondellBasell, INEOS, Borealis and SABIC. Carbios is listed as an emerging player.
Does GCR have an API?
No public API is recorded for GCR.
What industry is GCR in?
GCR's product category is Recycled Plastics and Sustainable Polymer Compounds. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANAMAG, Reprocessed Resin & Recycled Polymer Compounding (PCR/PIR Compounds), with a secondary code of IMANAAAH, Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins). Its NAICS code is 32521 and its SIC code is 2821.