Symbols on plastic packaging

All plastic packaging, from plastic containers to plastic bags, are marked with symbols. These symbols may say something about the type of material, the source of a packaging's material or how to deal with the packaging after use, the waste phase. The symbols refer only to the packaging and not to the packaged product.

The following overview explains for each category what all the symbols stand for.

Symbols about types of plastic

PET symbol

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    PET or PETE stands for polyethylene terephthalate. You see this symbol mainly on large and small bottles of soft drinks and water. PET is a thermoplastic polyester and is easy to recycle when disposed of properly.

HDPE symbol

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      HDPE is an abbreviation for High Density Polyethylene and stands for high-density polyethene. This material is a thicker, less transparent type of plastic that you mainly find in, for example, shampoo bottles, juice bottles, toys and rubbish bags. It is safe, you can reuse it and it is easily recyclable.

PVC symbol

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        PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride. You find PVC in shower curtains, swimming pools, mattress protectors, bibs, detergent bottles and other products. The toxic dioxin is released during production and plasticisers are commonly added in this kind.

LDPE symbol

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          LDPE is an abbreviation for Low Density Polyethylene and stands for low-density polyethylene. This material is used for soft plastic products such as shrink wrap, plastic dry cleaning covers and car seat covers. It is one of the safer types of plastic and can be well recycled.

PP symbol

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            PP is the abbreviation for Polypropylene and is one of the most widely produced plastics in the world. This material is used in harder, flexible plastics such as toys, as well as cups, straws and trays. It is a safe type of plastic and is easily recyclable.

PS symbol

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              PS stands for polystyrene and is used for harder plastics such as disposable cups and cutlery and for styrofoam which is used for meat trays in supermarkets. It is also known as Styrofoam. The products can leak styrene, which is potentially neurologically harmful and has other negative health effects. In addition, this type of plastic often ends up in the environment as it breaks down into smaller pieces, making it difficult to clean up.

Other symbol

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                Under the heading, Other, include other and mixed plastics. These can include: PC (polycarbonate), PU (polyurethane), acrylic, polyamide, bioplastics and many other combinations of plastics that do not fit any of the other types.

The symbols below refer to the source of a package's material.

Der Blaue Engel symbol

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                  Blue Angel seal of approval is the oldest eco-label in the world. Originally a German label, it is also used in the Netherlands. The label indicates that the product is less environmentally harmful than similar products. The symbol itself indicates for each package in which area the product is less environmentally harmful, for example 'energy-saving'. An independent jury assesses whether a product receives the label. This assessment is repeated every 2-3 years.The film for the production of potting soil bags from KIVO is certified with the Blue Angel seal of approval. Read more about the Blue Angel label.

Cradle to Cradle (C2C) symbol

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                    Cradle to Cradle (C2C) is an international label with five levels: basic, bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Cradle to Cradle refers to the cycle of a product. The label indicates whether the materials can be put to good use in another product after use. A product is assessed on five aspects: composition of the materials, possibilities to reuse the materials, use of renewable energy, sustainable water management, and social justice.The central idea behind Cradle to Cradle, is that after their life in one product, the materials used can be put to good use in another.

EU Ecolabel symbol

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                      The EU Ecolabel is a European eco-label for non-food products and services. Products and services with the EU Ecolabel are more sustainably produced. The label sets strict requirements on the use of energy, raw materials, water and harmful substances. In each EU member state, a competent body is responsible for implementing the symbol. In the Netherlands, this is the Stichting Milieukeur (SMK)

Milieukeur (SMK)

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                        Milieukeur (SMK) is a certification for services and products based on their life cycle assessment (LCA). Milieukeur takes an integral approach to making production processes sustainable. It carefully considers various themes such as Raw Materials, Energy and Climate, Harmful Substances, Water Quality and Quantity and Packaging and Waste. The label is monitored by Central Boards of Experts.

OK Biobased

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                          The OK biobased logo indicates whether a product is made of renewable materials. Products with the label can be plastics based on cellulose, lactic acid or starch. It has four levels, from packaging consisting of at least 20 per cent (one star) to packaging consisting of up to 80 per cent (four stars) of renewable materials. The logo says nothing about the compostability or recyclability of the packaging. TüV Austria (formerly AIB Vinçotte) is the certifier and controller of hallmark. Read more here bioplastics.

Symbols about waste

The symbols below provide information on how to handle the packaging after use or how a packaging is processed in the waste phase.

Litter symbol

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                            The Litter symbol is used on packaging that often ends up in the environment as litter. The symbols ask consumers to throw the packaging in a bin and not on the street. These logos can be used voluntarily and are not controlled.

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Which symbol denotes a compostable plastic?

Kiemplant logo

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                              The seedling logo or seedling label is used for packaging that is industrially compostable. The logos appear on bags, sleeves and trays made of compostable plastic. Only compostable bags (with Kiemplant logo or OK compost logo) to collect your vegetable, fruit and garden waste are allowed in the organic waste bin. Other compostable packaging and compostable products must go with the residual waste. This is because it is not clear whether the lead time in the industrial composting plant is long enough for compostable plastics to break down properly within that time. The packaging should also not go on the compost heap at home, where such materials do not decompose well either.

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OK Compost label

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                                The OK Compost label has the same meaning as the seedling logo. The label indicates whether a package is industrially compostable.

OK Compost HOME label

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                                  The OK Compost HOME label guarantees that the product is suitable to be composted at home. The duration of composting here is different from an industrial composting plant because the volume and temperature are not constant. There is no European standard for this label.

The OK Biodegradable label indicates that the material is biodegradable in nature. Again, there is no European standard for this. There are three variants of the OK Biodegradable symbol:

OK Biodegradable MARINE label

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                                    The OK Biodegradable MARINE label guarantees that the packaging is fully biodegradable in natural salt water.

OK Biodegradable SOIL label

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                                      The OK Biodegradable SOIL label guarantees that the packaging fully biodegrades in the soil.

OK Biodegradable WATER label

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                                        The OK Biodegradable WATER label guarantees that the packaging is fully biodegradable in a natural freshwater environment.

Möbius loop symbol

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                                          This well-known symbol becomes the Möbius loop referred to as. It is used for both packaging that is recyclable and packaging that contains recycled material. The figure for the amount of recycled material is calculated according to a methodology laid down in the ISO 14021 standard.

Plastic Heroes symbol

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                                          The Plastic Heroes symbol was created as part of the Plastic Heroes campaign launched by the Prologue Foundation in 2008. The logo indicates that plastic packaging can be recycled and belongs with plastic waste. The use of this symbol is neither controlled nor mandatory, but serves as an aid to consumers.

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