In today's world, where vast amounts of goods are produced and consumed every day, recycling is one of the most fundamental principles we follow in our quest for environmental sustainability. Recycling is a process that allows us to reuse materials that would otherwise end up in landfills or in nature, and in doing so, we contribute to the protection of our planet. In this article, we will focus on one of the key questions regarding recycling: what recycling label should we put on our packaging?
Home
Imagine the scenario: your customer has just finished the dried meat you pack in our bags. Now he is holding an empty bag and is about to throw it away. He stops for a moment and thinks about where to put it. Should he throw it in the mixed waste? Or should he put it in the plastic bin instead? Is it paper or plastic? What should he do to contribute to environmental protection and proper recycling?
These questions may seem simple at first sight, but in reality they often catch us by surprise. That is why it is important to know what recycling label to put on the packaging so that end customers can sort their waste correctly and contribute to the sustainability of our planet.
Recycling labels are a universal language that helps us understand what the packaging is made of and how to dispose of it correctly after use. They are symbols that provide us with information on whether the packaging is made of plastic, paper, glass or other materials and which bin it belongs in.
In the following sections of this article, we will look in more detail at the different recycling symbols, their meaning and how they help us sort our waste. We will explore the different types of materials we commonly use in packaging and learn how to sort and recycle them correctly.
So let's delve into the world of recycling labels and discover together how to label packaging correctly and thus contribute to the sustainability of our planet.
What does the recycling mark look like?
The International Universal Recycling Code consists of a triangle formed by three arrows. This triangle is then supplemented by a numerical or textual indication of the material, or both.
In the case of packaging composed of several materials, the letter 'C', symbolising the word 'composite', is used in the text, followed by the text of the predominant material by weight after the slash. In this way, important information about the composition of the packaging is easily and elegantly conveyed, allowing consumers to make an informed decision about its future fate.
LDPE 4
LDPE is an abbreviation for low density polyethylene, which can be found here under the abbreviation PE. Packaging with this designation is made of PE monofil according to DIN EN 13430. You will find bags made of PE/ PE/ EVOH film under this designation. Bags with designation 4 are 100% recyclable and are disposed of in the yellow bin (plastic) after use.
WARNING: If you stick a paper sticker on the bag, the packaging will still bear the label 4. The paper label will peel off during subsequent processing.
PP 5
PP stands for polypropylene, which is widely used for food packaging. Packaging with this marking is made of PP film according to DIN EN 13430. Under this designation you can find bags made of OPP/ CPP and OPP film. Bags with marking 5 are 100% recyclable and are disposed of in the yellow bin (plastic) after use.
WARNING: If you stick a paper sticker on the bag, the packaging will still bear the 5 mark.
OTHER 7
All other plastics or combinations of plastics which do not fall into the above groups fall under this designation. In our country, bags that are made of several types of plastic film (so-called composite), such as OPP/ PETmet/ PE and PET/ PE, carry this label. You can throw bags with this label in the yellow bin (plastic) after use. Please note that packaging marked 7 is not recycled, but is sorted and then used for energy recovery.
WARNING: If you stick a paper sticker on the bag, the packaging will still be marked 7.
PAP 22
The abbreviation PAP indicates paper products that are suitable for recycling and should be put in the blue bin (paper) after use. You can also find bags under the KRAFT label, specifically the KRAFTpaper/paper material.
CAUTION: If you stick a plastic sticker on the bag, the packaging will still be labelled 22. The plastic label will peel off during subsequent processing, but we recommend using paper labels for this type of packaging.
C/LDPE 81
C/ LDPE 81 is the designation for materials made from a mixture of paper and plastic. Packaging marked in this way is not recycled and is disposed of in mixed waste. KRAFT/ PET/ PE; KRAFT/ PE; KRAFT/ PE Im green/ KPET; KRAFT/ OPP; KRA FT/PET/ CPP and KRAFT/ BOPA/ PE carry this marking.
C/PPP 84
C/ PP 84 is the designation for packaging made of a mixture of paper, plastic and aluminium. Packaging marked in this way is not recycled and is disposed of in mixed waste. KRAFT/ AL/ CPP material carries this marking in our country.
C/LDPE 90
C/ LDPE 90 is the designation for materials made of a mixture of aluminium and plastic. Packaging marked in this way is not recycled and is disposed of in mixed waste. In our country, PET/ AL/ PE and OPP/ AL/ PE materials carry this label.
