Recycling codes

Recycling codes identify the material a pack is made from, typically a number inside a triangle of arrows with an abbreviation underneath. They help consumers and sorting facilities send packaging to the right stream.

Plastic codes

• 1 PET, including PET film
• 2 HDPE
• 3 PVC
• 4 LDPE, used for many PE films
• 5 PP, including BOPP and CPP
• 6 PS
• 7 O (Other), for other plastics and multi-plastic combinations

Other materials use abbreviations such as PAP for paper, FE for steel and ALU for aluminium. Composites are often marked with a "C/" prefix followed by the dominant material, for example C/PAP.

Which code for a pouch?

An all-PE mono-material pouch can carry 4, an all-PP BOPP/CPP pouch 5, while mixed laminates such as PET/PE or PET/foil/PE usually fall under 7 or a composite marking. Ask your supplier for the exact layer structure and weight shares.

A code is not a recyclability claim

The symbol only identifies the material; it does not mean the pack is recyclable or will be recycled. A code 7 laminate, for instance, usually is not. Check the marking rules of each market you sell in, and place the code legibly, typically on the back panel.