The Möbius loop

The Möbius loop is internationally known as the symbol for recycling of materials.

Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC

Article 8 of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC defines the marking and identification of packaging materials.
The identification of the nature of the packaging material facilitates collection, reuse, recovery and recycling of packaging.

Decision 97/129/EC on the Packaging Directive specifies the identification codes for packaging materials, refer to the table below on this page.
The Decision states that the use of the identification system is voluntary. There are however two EU member states that made the coding mandatory: Bulgary and also Italy.

Italy published Legislative Decree No. 116 on 3 September 2020. The obligation to add material coding to packaging has been postponed a few times since then, but it will become mandatory per 1-1-2022.

An extensive guide, in Italian, written by CONAI (Italy’s national packaging consortium) can be downloaded here: http://www.etichetta-conai.com/documenti/linee-guida/

Please note that when the voluntary marking is applied, the manufacturer declares that the packaging complies with the mandatory essential requirements of the Packaging Directive.

The most common used symbols are for plastics, numbered 1 to 7.
The used abbreviations for plastics may deviate, for instance in the US "V" is sufficient to indicate "PVC", and PETE (PET), PE-LD (LDPE) and PE-HD (HDPE) are used alternatives too.

Plastics #7 (OTHER) is not listed in Decision 97/129/EC but nevertheless it is often used.

(C***) For composites use C plus abbreviation for principal component.