Recycling is such an important part of sustainability, and yet as a consumer it is difficult to know what is recyclable and what is not.
You should be able to tell from a recycling logo, whether packaging can go to a yellow bin (recycling) or a red bin (landfill), however with a current lack of regulations, companies can place deceptive logos on their packaging, which in your hometown may mean nothing and simply lead to more landfill or recycling contamination.
Let’s look at logos you are likely to see.
Australian Recycling Label (ARL) – newave packaging example below:
The ARL logo is the only evidence-based recycling label officially supported by all levels of Australian Government.
This is why newave uses the ARL; so that you can completely trust the recycling claim of the packaging.
Different regions / countries have different rules and infrastructure. This is why our boxes show non-recyclable in New Zealand, as they are too small to be processed through New Zealand systems.
In Australia they can go to your yellow recycling bin and you can be 100% sure they will be recycled.
At newave we give full transparency. We don’t seek to be something we are not, and we do not seek to confuse you by making claims that are not true.
Let’s look at other logos our are likely to find on other company’s cosmetic product boxes that can be completely meaningless.
This logos is seen on so many items of packaging across the world, however it only indicates that an object is capable of being recycled but not that it will necessarily be accepted in all recycling collection systems or that it has been recycled.
Sometimes this symbol is used with a percentage figure in the middle to explain that the packaging contains x% of recycled material.
In Australia, this logos is meaningless to give you any certainty the product will be recycled in your town.
The Green Dot does not necessarily mean that the packaging is recyclable, will be recycled or has been recycled.
It is a symbol used on packaging in some European countries and signifies that the producer has made a financial contribution towards the recovery and recycling of packaging in Europe.
In Australia, this logo is useless to indicating whether the product can be recycled.
This symbol from Keep Britain Tidy asks you not to litter.
It doesn't relate to recycling but is a reminder to be a good citizen, disposing of the item in the most appropriate manner.
In Australia, this logo is useless to indicating whether the product can be recycled.
OUTCOME – What does this all mean?
If you want to be sure you are doing the right thing in recycling, the only way is by choosing packaging displaying the ARL logo. It is as simple as that.
One of our founders (Hugh) has made several submission to the Government stating that the ARL logo should be mandated on all packaging in the upcoming packaging reform being overseen by the Federal Government.
That is the only way when any of us buy something that we can make sure the packaging goes in the right place.
At newave we want to “save the planet” and that goes with being completely honest and transparent. We don’t place meaningless recycling logos on our packaging for a reason.
You have a choice in products and packaging, sustainability is in our hands.
