Questions about R4™ recycled resin products Q. WHAT IS R4? R4 is Lumicor's environmental responsibility program. Lumicor R4 resins contain certified levels of recycled material and can help your project qualify for LEED certification. All of Lumicor's encapsulated resin products are made using R4 resin.* Lumicor is the only company in the industry to offer a choice of three certified recycled resin products.
Q. IS R4 AVAILABLE IN ALL DECORS? All Lumicor panels are made with R4 recycled resin*.
Q. WHERE DOES THE RECYCLED MATERIAL COME FROM? Lumicor has partnered with its suppliers to capture large quantities of resin material that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. The recycled content consists of materials used to make products such as retail display units, fixtures, packaging, etc. After collecting the material from third-party suppliers, it is sent off for sorting and separation to confirm its quality levels. Several tests are performed to verify the integrity and clarity of the material, all passing material is then properly ground and re-labeled in accordance with SCS standards to ensure the highest quality recycled product available in the market.
Q. WHAT KIND OF AUDIT/ACCOUNTING PROCESS IS USED? Lumicor relies on Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to certify all of its claims. SCS is a leading third-party provider of certification, auditing and testing services, and standards.
Q. WHAT TECHNICAL CHALLENGES WERE OVERCOME TO DEVELOP R4™ Translucent materials are inherently more difficult to manufacture when produced with recycled materials. In order to develop R4, the following technical hurdles were overcome: - Sheet optical quality control measures were employed with the use of a spectrophotometer.
- Strict resin quality and contaminant standards (material properties, particulate levels, etc.) were implemented to avoid instances of contamination.
Q. WHY WAS R4 DEVELOPED? Lumicor is committed to providing outstanding service, the highest quality architectural resin panels and sustainable design. Our customers have asked for a green option and we have answered with a product that can qualify for LEED credits without compromising quality.
Q. DOES R4 LOOK THE SAME AS ORIGINAL RESIN PANELS? Although Lumicor has very strict quality guidelines to ensure that R4 and original Lumicor products look the same, there may be an occasional speck or slight discoloration in an R4 panel. This is a common result when working with recycled products.
Q. DOES THE RECYCLED CONTENT ALTER THE PROPERTIES OF THE RESIN? No. The chemical and physical properties are the same as standard resins with no recycled content.
Q. WHY DO DIFFERENT RESINS HAVE DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES OF RECYCLED MATERIAL? Lumicor’s three resin options contain varying levels of recycled content due to the availability of the recycled content and our strict quality standards.
Q. WHY AREN’T R4 PRODUCTS MADE FROM 100% RECYCLED MATERIAL? The levels of recycled content in R4 are the highest levels available at this time without compromising the quality of the product. Lumicor’s research and development process is ongoing and we hope to move toward a 100% recycled product in the future.
Q. WHAT IS ACTUALLY CERTIFIED? R4 products are certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to contain specified levels of recycled material.
Q. IS MY SAMPLE MADE OUT OF R4? Possibly. Lumicor samples a mix of R4 and standard resin. Please keep in mind that Lumicor has very strict quality guidelines to ensure that R4 looks the same as standard resin.
Q. WHY IS LUMICOR A MEMBER OF THE USGBC? Lumicor decided to join to make a meaningful contribution that you can be proud of. As a member company, all full-time employees of your organization will enjoy substantial money-saving discounts, connect with a powerful and diverse network of professionals, gain access to the latest green building developments and information, and play an active role in green building policy-making | 
