What Do Plastic Recycling Symbols (1-7) Mean?

The number 1-7 inside the triangular arrow symbol is an international classification code (Resin Identification Code) that shows which plastic resin a product is made from. Recycling facilities use this code to separate different plastic types from one another — each plastic melts at a different temperature and requires different processing, so recycling quality drops if they are mixed.

1 — PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): The most commonly used and one of the most recycled plastic types for water and beverage bottles.

2 — YYPE/HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Used in detergent and shampoo bottles and some bags. The YYPE grades in our catalog fall into this category.

3 — PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Used in pipes, cable insulation and some packaging films.

4 — AYPE/LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): Used in shopping bags, shrink film and flexible packaging. The AYPE grades in our catalog fall into this category.

5 — PP (Polypropylene): Used in yogurt cups, caps and many injection-molded parts. The PP grades in our catalog fall into this category.

6 — PS (Polystyrene): Used in single-use cups, foam packaging (styrofoam) and similar products.

7 — Other: Plastics that don't fall into the six categories above (polycarbonate, some bioplastics, mixed/multilayer packaging) are grouped here.

The PP, AYPE and YYPE raw materials we sell, once processed into a final product, are exactly the materials labeled with codes 5, 4 and 2 respectively. This coding matters so that the final product you manufacture is labeled correctly and consumers can sort it for recycling properly.