The recycling symbol indicates what material the packaging is made of. The symbol thus makes it easier to sort waste for later recycling. Read on to find out what the individual numbers and abbreviations in the various recycling codes mean.
Recycling symbols on packaging: What the symbols mean
You’ve probably already seen recycling symbols on various types of packaging, such as shampoo bottles, canned foods, or water bottles.
- The recycling symbol consists of three arrows arranged in a triangle. The arrows are meant to symbolize the recycling cycle.
- Below the triangle, you’ll find an abbreviation consisting of letters that indicates the material group (e.g., “GL” for glass).
- Inside the triangle is a number that serves as a code for the specific packaging material (e.g., “71” for green glass).
- The Packaging Act specifies the respective abbreviations and numbers for recycling codes (Annex 5 of the Packaging Act (regarding Section 6)). Standardized labels make it easier for recycling companies and individuals to identify materials during waste separation and to pre-sort them for recycling.
- The recycling symbol is a voluntary designation. Companies may therefore decide for themselves whether or not to label their packaging with recycling symbols.
The recycling symbol for plastics: How to Decode the Code
You can find the following numbers and abbreviations as recycling codes on plastic packaging. The number is inside the triangle, and the letters are listed below it.
- 01 – PET or PETE: Polyethylene terephthalate
- 02 – HDPE or PE-HD: High-density polyethylene
- 03 – PVC: Polyvinyl chloride
- 04 – LDPE or PE-LD: Low-density polyethylene
- 05 – PP: Polypropylene
- 06 – PS: Polystyrene
Recycling Symbols: Paper & Cardboard
Paper and cardboard also have numbers inside the triangle and letters below the triangle.
- 20 – PAP: Corrugated cardboard
- 21 – PAP: Other cardboard
- 22 – PAP: Paper
Recycling symbols for metals
The same procedure applies to metals.
- 40 – FE: Steel
- 41 – ALU: Recycling symbol for aluminum
Wood materials
Recycling codes have even been created for wood.
Recycling symbols for textiles
Textiles can also be clearly pre-sorted using these codes.
- 60 – TEX: Cotton
- 61 – TEX: Jute
Recycling symbols for glass
Recycling codes have also been assigned to the colors of the glass.
- 70 – GL: Colorless glass
- 71 – GL: Green glass
- 72 – GL: Brown glass
Composite materials
Composite materials consist of at least two different materials that cannot be separated or are difficult to separate. An example of this is ready-to-eat meals in pouches (plastic packaging with an aluminum coating on the inside). For recycling codes for composite materials, the letter “C” is used together with the abbreviation for the packaging’s main material: “C/(abbreviation of the main component).”
- 80 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/various metals
- 81 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/plastic
- 82 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/aluminum
- 83 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/tinplate
- 84 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/plastic/aluminum
- 85 – C/_: Paper and cardboard/plastic/aluminum/tinplate
- 90 – C/_: Plastic/Aluminum
- 91 – C/_: Plastic/Tinplate
- 92 – C/_: Plastic/Various Metals
- 95 – C/_: Glass/Plastic
- 96 – C/_: Glass/Aluminum
- 97 – C/_: Glass/Tinplate
- 98 – C/_: Glass/Various Metals
