When attempting to determine whether a plastic food packaging container is recyclable, a good place to start is by looking at the bottom of your container for an imprinted recycling symbol containing a mix of letters and numbers. You want to do the right thing and recycle the container – if the material is recyclable – or throw it out if it’s not. But here's the catch: the food packaging symbol on your plastic food container doesn’t actually indicate if it’s recyclable. Instead, it simply identifies the type of material the container is made from. So, if the recycling code doesn’t confirm recyclability, what does it really mean?
What are Resin ID Codes?
The ASTM International Resin Identification Coding System, commonly known as Resin ID Code or RIC is a set of numbers and symbols that appear on plastic products and packaging. These symbols were developed to identify the plastic resin used in each product, allowing for better sorting during the recycling process. This coding method was developed in 1988 by the Society of the Plastics Industry, or Plastics Industry Association as it is known today, and since 2008, has been administered by ASTM International.
Under this system, different types of plastic resins were given a numeric code to go along with the abbreviation of the polymer name. The below graphic from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) gives more information about what numeric symbol corresponds to what resin, and some common products that are produced from that type of material:
Why Were Resin ID Codes Established, and Where Did the Confusion Start?
This coding system was originally developed to offer a consistent national system to help identify the type of plastic that a product or packaging is produced from to facilitate recycling of post-consumer plastics. The system has since been adopted by community recycling programs across the United States as a tool to assist in sorting plastics, separating products and packaging according to material type.
However, confusion started when these packaging symbols were frequently mistaken for recycling symbols. Due to the resemblance of the symbols used in the coding system to the recycling symbol, RIC symbols have led to ongoing consumer confusion and are often mistaken as indicating the recyclability status of a particular type to plastic.
How Do Food Packaging Symbols Relate to Plastic Recyclability?
While food packaging symbols like Resin ID Codes tell you what type of plastic a product is made from, they don’t provide the full picture when it comes to recyclability.
The reality of plastic recycling is much more complicated than determining the resin that a product or packaging is produced from. Even though a material may be technically possible to recycle, it may be economically unfeasible or there may be obstacles to consumer access to recycling that stand in the way.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers states that for a material to be considered recyclable in the US, it must meet their robust “definition of recyclability,” which goes beyond material identification. In addition to material type, this definition also considers consumer access to a collection system that accepts the material (at least 60%), the market value of the material (it must have one), the ability of the product or material to be correctly sorted through common material recovery systems, and the ability for the material to be further processed into post-consumer feedstock.
Best Resources for Food Packaging Symbols & Plastic Recyclability
While food packaging symbols, such as RIC codes can provide useful insight into the type of material that the product or packaging is made from, that is only the first step in the process.
Organizations like APR and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s (SPC) How2Recycle program have created comprehensive guidelines to help consumers get a general understanding of what materials are most likely recyclable in the US.
- The APR Design Guide: This guide helps manufacturers design plastic packaging for recyclability in North America, specifying which materials are most likely to be recycled per their definition (PET rigid, HDPE Rigid, PE flexible and PP Rigid), and which are not (PVC rigid, EPS Foam, PS Rigid and PLA Rigid)
- The SPC’s How2Recycle program considers the entire packaging system and gives on-package recycling instructions for each component (plastic, cardboard, film, etc.).
Local Recycling Rules and the Role of Food Packaging Symbols
Unfortunately in the US, recycling capabilities vary from state-to-state, and sometimes town-to-town. So regardless of what guidelines & food packaging symbols tell you, it is important to research your local municipality’s rules and capabilities for recycling so you know what materials will be effectively recycled.
By better understanding food packaging symbols and pairing that knowledge with local guidelines, you can make smarter choices about what to recycle and what to dispose of responsibly. Doing so will ensure that the materials put in the recycling bin will have a viable end market, while those that cannot are disposed properly to reduce risk of contamination.
Interested in learning more about Sustainable Packaging options from ICPG? Check our Realistic Guide to Achieving Sustainability in Rigid Food Packaging:
