Recycling labels on packaging: How2Recycle, resin codes & the FTC rules
Three different marks — the chasing-arrows triangle, the resin code, and a How2Recycle label — get used interchangeably on packaging, and they mean very different things. Getting them wrong turns a well-meant sustainability cue into a claim you can't defend.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The recycling symbols on packaging do not all mean the same thing — and most of them are not, by themselves, a promise that an item is recyclable. The chasing-arrows triangle, the resin identification code (the 1 through 7 number inside a triangle), and a How2Recycle label each carry a different meaning, and the FTC's Green Guides govern which recyclability claims you can make. Put the right mark on for the right reason:
- Chasing arrows alone — historically ambiguous; not a guarantee of local recyclability
- Resin code 1–7 — identifies the plastic; not a recycle-me instruction
- How2Recycle — a standardized, member-reviewed label that tells shoppers what to actually do
- FTC Green Guides — the federal yardstick for a defensible "recyclable" claim
Requirements/timelines change. This page was last verified against How2Recycle, the FTC Green Guides, and applicable state recycling-labeling law on 18 July 2026. Always confirm the current version with those authorities before you rely on it. This is general guidance, not legal or compliance advice.
What the recycling symbols actually mean
Walk down any aisle and you'll see a triangle of arrows, a number inside a triangle, and — increasingly — a small box that spells out how to recycle a package. Shoppers read all three as the same thing: recyclable. They are not. Each mark answers a different question, and only some of them are a claim you're actually allowed to make. This article is part of our guide to US packaging compliance, and it sticks to what the marks mean — not what we wish they meant.
| Symbol | What it means | What it does NOT mean |
|---|---|---|
| Chasing-arrows triangle (the Mobius loop) | A general recycling symbol, historically used to suggest an item is recyclable or contains recycled content | That your local program accepts it, or that it will actually be recycled |
| Resin identification code (a number 1–7 in a triangle) | Which plastic resin a rigid item is molded from — for example 1 for PET, 2 for HDPE, 5 for PP | A recyclability claim, or a "please recycle" instruction |
| How2Recycle label | A standardized, reviewed on-pack instruction telling shoppers what to do with each component | That every component is curbside-recyclable everywhere |
| Store Drop-Off (a How2Recycle variant) | Return flexible film and bags to a participating retail collection point | That the film belongs in your curbside bin |
The distinction matters because a symbol is a claim. Print a chasing-arrows triangle on a package that no local program accepts, and you've arguably told the shopper something untrue — which is exactly the territory the FTC's Green Guides police, and increasingly the territory of state law too.
The resin identification codes, 1 through 7
The resin identification code — often mistaken for a recycling symbol because it sits inside a triangle of arrows — exists for a narrow purpose: to tell a sorting facility (and, in theory, a consumer) which plastic a rigid item is molded from. The codes run 1 through 7 and are defined by an ASTM standard (commonly published as ASTM D7611 — verify the current revision). Here is what each number generally identifies:
- 1 — PET / PETE: clear bottles and some trays
- 2 — HDPE: milk jugs, detergent bottles, some tubs
- 3 — PVC / V: rare in modern consumer packaging
- 4 — LDPE: films, squeeze bottles, flexible lids
- 5 — PP: tubs, closures, and many pouch structures
- 6 — PS: foam and some rigid trays
- 7 — Other: mixed, multi-resin, or barrier structures that don't fit 1–6
Two things the code does not tell you: whether your curbside program accepts that resin, and whether the item will find an end market. A tub stamped 5 is still only recyclable where PP is collected and sorted. And anything built from more than one resin — most high-barrier laminates and many stand-up pouches — usually lands in 7, "Other," which is a polite way of saying "hard to recycle." If recyclability is the goal, a mono-material structure that stays inside one resin family recycles far more cleanly; we cover the engineering trade-offs in mono-material packaging and recyclable mono-material pouches.
How2Recycle and the Store Drop-Off label
How2Recycle takes the opposite approach to a bare symbol. Instead of one ambiguous mark, it prints a clear, standardized instruction for each part of the package — the tub, the lid, the film — telling the shopper to recycle it, not recycle it, or take it somewhere specific. Using the label is not a free-for-all: it's a membership program, and each package is reviewed against the program's rules and current end-market data before a label is issued. That review is the point. It forces the claim to match reality rather than aspiration.
The Store Drop-Off variant deserves a callout, because flexible film is the most misunderstood material in the bin. Plastic bags, pouch overwrap, and film are generally not accepted curbside — they tangle sorting equipment at the recovery facility — but many can be returned to participating retail collection points. A Store Drop-Off label tells the shopper exactly that, which is far more honest than a chasing-arrows triangle that quietly sends film into a curbside cart where it becomes contamination.
The FTC Green Guides and "recyclable" claims
Underneath all of this sits the FTC Green Guides — the federal government's guidance on how to make environmental marketing claims without deceiving anyone. The Guides are not a line-by-line rulebook, and they aren't, by themselves, a statute; they describe how the Federal Trade Commission interprets deceptive-advertising law when it comes to green claims. Two principles matter most for packaging:
- Substantiate the claim. A "recyclable" claim should be backed by evidence that the item actually gets recycled through the systems available to the people buying it.
- Qualify it when access is limited. The general rule the Guides describe is that when a substantial share of consumers or communities can't recycle an item, an unqualified "recyclable" claim can mislead — so the claim should be qualified (for instance, "recyclable where facilities exist," or a Check Locally instruction).
We are deliberately not quoting specific thresholds or figures here, because the Green Guides are guidance the FTC periodically reviews and updates, and the exact framing can change. Read the current version on the FTC's site before you finalize a claim — and treat everything on this page as general information, not legal advice.
States are restricting the bare chasing-arrows
The bare chasing-arrows symbol is under the most pressure. A growing number of states have enacted or proposed "truth in labeling" legislation that restricts use of the chasing-arrows symbol — and recyclable claims generally — unless an item is genuinely collected and recycled within that state's programs. California is the most-cited example of the direction of travel, but the specifics, timing, and scope differ from state to state and are actively changing. Don't rely on a single national rule here; confirm the current requirements for every state you sell into.
This connects directly to packaging Extended Producer Responsibility. Under the EPR laws now rolling out, the "producer" pays for a package's end of life, and eco-modulated fees can reward genuinely recyclable design while penalizing the opposite. A false or unqualified recycling claim becomes a liability on two fronts at once — the marketing claim and the fee structure — so the honest move and the cheaper move increasingly point the same way.
Design for a claim you can defend
So what do you actually put on the pack? The honest sequence is simple: make it recyclable first, then label it truthfully.
- Design the structure to recycle. A mono-material package (all-PE, all-PP, or all-paper) can survive a single recycling stream; a mixed laminate usually can't. Start with a mono-material structure wherever the barrier requirements allow.
- Match the claim to reality. If most of your customers can't recycle the item where they live, qualify the claim or drop it — don't print a bare triangle just to look green.
- Use a reviewed, standardized label. How2Recycle exists precisely so the mark is defensible and consistent; a Store Drop-Off instruction is the right call for film.
- Place and size the mark so it reads. A recycling instruction that's too small, too low in contrast, or buried in a seam does the shopper no good — and can undercut the claim you're trying to make.
- Preflight the file. Confirm the symbol is legible, correctly placed, on its own layer, and that the artwork's claim matches the structure you're actually manufacturing, before it goes to plate.
Preflight — the pre-production check of a print file that confirms it will manufacture correctly, including that on-pack symbols and claims are legible, correctly placed, and on the right layer. See more terms in the packaging glossary.
None of this replaces a real sustainability strategy. See our sustainable packaging guide for how labeling fits alongside material choice, right-sizing, and end-of-life design — the label should be the last honest step of a package that was built to recycle, not a sticker that papers over one that wasn't.
How PackOS helps you get the label right
PackOS treats the recycling mark as part of the print file, not an afterthought. When you upload artwork, it reads the structure and the color separations, so the recycling symbol, the resin mark, and any How2Recycle block are checked the same way a barcode or a legal panel is — for legibility, placement, and whether they sit on the right layer. You can see how the detection and preflight steps run on the technology page. It won't write your legal claim for you — that stays your call with the FTC and your state — but it makes sure the mark you chose actually prints the way you intended. To see it on a real file, start a Quick Quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does the chasing-arrows symbol mean a package is recyclable?
Not on its own. The plain chasing-arrows triangle has historically been used both as a recyclability claim and, with a number inside, as a resin identification code that only names the plastic. It does not guarantee the item is accepted by curbside programs where you live. Recyclability depends on the material, the local facility, and end markets, so always confirm before making a claim.
What is the resin identification code (RIC 1 to 7)?
The resin identification code is a number from 1 to 7 inside a triangle that identifies which plastic resin a package is molded from, for example 1 for PET and 2 for HDPE. It is a material identifier defined by an ASTM standard, not a promise that the item is recyclable in your area. Sorting facilities and consumers should not read it as a recycle-me instruction.
What is a How2Recycle label?
How2Recycle is a standardized on-pack labeling program that tells shoppers, component by component, whether to recycle, not recycle, or take a part to a store drop-off point. Using it requires membership and a review of your package against the program's rules. It is designed to make recyclability instructions clearer and more consistent than a bare symbol.
What do the FTC Green Guides say about recyclable claims?
The FTC Green Guides are federal guidance on how to make environmental marketing claims without being deceptive. In general they say a recyclable claim should be substantiated and qualified when a substantial share of consumers cannot actually recycle the item where they live. They are guidance rather than a line-by-line rulebook, so review the current version with the FTC before relying on a claim.
Are chasing-arrows symbols being banned?
Some states have moved to restrict use of the chasing-arrows symbol and recyclable claims unless an item is genuinely recyclable in that state's collection programs. The details, timing, and scope vary by jurisdiction and are changing, so this is a trend to track rather than a single national rule. Confirm the current requirements with each state you sell into.