Recycling symbols decoded: what all the codes on your beauty products actually mean
Recycling symbols are quite simply, baffling – just like the guidance around what can and can't go in your bin. So if you've ever looked at the back of one of your beauty products and thought WTAF, you're not alone. The rules around recycling are changing all the time, but progress is being made and efforts around rubbish disposal mean that less is going to waste. But, it's hard to keep up, which is why we've created this ultimate guide to every single recycling symbol out there, so that you can learn exactly how to properly dispose of your skincare, haircare, perfume and makeup empties.
We know we have a problem with packaging, especially within the beauty industry where, having totted up the numbers, reports have found that up to 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, bulked out by the use of complex lids, multi-layered boxes and cellophane. That's a lot of unnecessary rubbish. Many manufacturers are looking at changing things their end, streamlining superfluous stuffing and looking at recycled and recyclable packaging. Efforts are being made to choose materials that can stay in circulation and extend the lifespan of the bottles, tubes and pots that they use. But it only works if we do our bit on our end to make sure the packaging ends up in the right place. Take brands such as Lush, Kan Kan, HIGHR and SBTRCT, who have all eliminated plastic packaging and made huge efforts to reduce their carbon emissions, with some brands actually achieving carbon negative status.
How to reduce your beauty waste once and for all
The general gist of it is; shampoo bottles, plastic pots and metal cans tend to be fully recyclable. Mascaras, foundations and makeup palettes are partly recyclable (read more about that here) and non-biodegradable makeup wipes, nail varnish bottles and makeup brushes are a no-go, but the symbol on the back of your packaging will help you to determine precisely what's what.
As well as upping your recycling game, it's also a good idea to cut back on your plastic use in general - find out exactly how to do so with our handy tips and tricks.
And if you're not convinced as to why you should be bothering at all, read about the detrimental effect pollution is having here.
Here's a handy guide to what the hell all the recycling symbols mean...
MOBIUS LOOP
The three green arrows going in a triangle simply means that it's capable of being recycled. Sometimes, the symbol will come with a percentage in the middle, signifying how much of it has been made from recycled materials.
DON'T RECYCLE
This means less than 50% of local authorities will collect this as part of your recycling because it's unable to be sorted, processed and recycled into new packaging, so this will have to go in your black bin.
PLASTICS
Three arrows in a triangle means that the item is capable of being recycled. The numbers and letters act as identification for the recycling teams. Plastics are classified into one of seven categories, each one a different material that is more or less easy to recycle.
1 = PET, Polyethylene Terephthalate, and is widely recycled.
2 = HDPE, High-Density Polyethylene, and is also widely recycled.
3 = PVC, Polyvinyl Chloride, and is capable of being recycled but harder to do so, so check with your local authority.
4 = LDPE, Low-Density Polyethylene, also capable of being recycled, but check with your local authority.
5 = PP, Polypropylene, hard or not possible to recycle, so try to reuse or avoid it. PP is used in tupperware, disposable cups, and some food containers.
6 = PS, Polystyrene or Styrofoam, hard or not possible to recycle, so try to reuse or avoid it. PS is used in disposable coffee cups, plastic cutlery and packing foam.
7 = other. This is usually a mish mash of lots of different plastics and is pretty tricky to recycle.
GLASS
This means the packaging is made of recyclable glass, so dispose of it in a glass bottle back, or in your household glass recycling if your local authority allows it.
WIDELY RECYCLED
If you see this symbol on the back of a product, it means it's widely recycled (by 75% or more of local authorities across the UK).
RECYCLE WITH THE LID ON
Caps and lids are often too small to be recycled and fall through the holes while being sorted, so if you see this symbol, remove the lid/cap, give the bottle a rinse, then stick the lid ack on before adding it to your recycling.
FINACIAL CONTRIBUTION
This one's a bit of a weirdo one - two interlocking green arrows means that the manufacturers have made a financial contribution to recycling services in Europe. It doesn't mean the product itself is recyclable.
TIDYMAN
This symbol is part of the Keep Britain Tidy initiative. It doesn't actually have anything to do with recycling but acts as a reminder to dispose of your waste properly.
WASTE ELECTRICALS
This means you should not bin electricals through your household waste bin (which means straighteners, hair dryers and curling tongs). Instead you should take them to your nearest recycling centre.
CHECK LOCALLY
A white circular arrow on a black background means that it is recycled by 20%-75% of UK regions, so the best thing to do is to check with your local council beforehand.
FOREST CERTIFIED
FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council and this symbol means the material has been made from wood sourced from a responsibly-managed forest that complies with the FSC's independent guidelines.
ALUMINIUM
This symbol means that the product is made from recyclable aluminium - and yes, that includes foil. Just make sure there's no crumbs or food left on the foil, and try and scrunch it up into a ball - the bigger the ball, the easier it is to recycle.
COMPOSTABLE
The threaded-through leaf means that an item is compostable. It's important not to put these items in your normal recycling - they actually cannot be recycled. Pop them in with your garden waste (if you don't have a garden waste bin, your council will provide one).
