Etiquette for Printing Recycled Paper Logos

The familiar "chasing arrows" design

Recycle symbols are prevalent in society. However, few people understand the proper usage and meaning associated with the various ways they are displayed.

History

The recycle symbol commonly used on printed material was developed in 1970 by Container Corporation of America. According to the National Service Center for Environmental Publication, "Recycling Update August 1991," the company held a contest as part of an Earth Day event seeking symbols to represent paper recycling. The winning design was submitted by student, Gary Anderson.

There are two versions commonly used on printed material and--depending on the version used--accompanying text is included for clarification.

Recyclable Symbol

Use the recyclable symbol to encourage recycling.

The recyclable symbol encourages users of paper to recycle and reminds them that the piece in question is "recyclable." It is not used to claim any recycled material was used in the manufacture of the product.

Recycled Content Symbol

The recycled content symbol needs accompanying text.

The recycled content symbol is used to claim that a product was manufactured using recycled materials. The symbol used alone is not adequate however. Always include text to indicate the percentage of recycled content. Typically, the symbol will have a number with the percent sign in the center of the arrows to identify how much of the product is composed of recycled paper. Alternatively, a line of text below the symbol is acceptable.

References

• National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP): History of Recycling
• Federal Trade Commission: Guide For The Use Of Environmental Marketing Claims