Frequently Asked Questions

Recycling – facts not fiction

The authority on all things recycling in the UK; WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change.

Numerous labels appear on packaging to advise consumers and promote environmental claims. To ensure these claims are accurate, a set of international standards have been developed known as the Green Claims Code, and is issued by the British Standards Institute.

To help you understand all the symbols you might see, take a glance at the guide below...

The green dot

The German 'Green Dot' does NOT necessarily mean that the packaging can be recycled. It is a symbol used on packaging in many European countries and signifies that the producer has made a contribution towards the recycling of packaging.

The Recycle Mark

The Recycle Mark is a call for action. Please try and recycle whenever possible.

The Mobius Loop

Indicates that an object is capable of being recycled - not that the object has been recycled.

The Mobius Loop with Percentage

Shows the percentage of recycled material contained in the product.

ecocard™ will only use a minimum of 50% recycled material for its board or plastic products.

FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council logo identifies products which contain wood from well managed forests independently certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC A.C. Learn more at www.fsc.org.

ecocard™ will only use FSC certified paper or board.

Plastics

There are a wide range of plastics used in packaging. To make sorting and recycling easier an Industry Standard logo is displayed that identifies the type of plastic and if it can be recycled through kerbside recycling schemes (check with your own county council as schemes do differ.) Number 1 & 2 are generally accepted by most councils.

PET (aka Polyethylene terephthalate)

Dove spa gift cards are made from PET or PETg as its known. Also Fizzy drink bottles, salad packaging and oven ready meals.

HDPE (aka High-density polyethylene)

Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.

PVC (aka Polyvinyl chloride)

99% of all plastic cards in circulation are made from PVC plastic. GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED IN KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEMES.

LDPE (aka Low density polyethylene)

Most carrier bags and bin liners are made from LDPE. GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED IN KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEMES.

PP (aka Polypropylene)

GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED IN KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEMES.

PS (aka Polstyrene)

GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED IN KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEMES.

Other

GENERALLY NOT ACCEPTED IN KERBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEMES.

Compostable Logo

If you see this symbol - it means you can put the card or packaging into your council's compost collection box or bag (if they provide one!)

This is a relatively new symbol found on biodegradable plastic packaging. The symbol signifies that the packaging has been tested, and is suitable for putting into local authority compost collections.

Our Ingeo™ card is compostable and the PLA material has been tested by DIN CERTCO.

DIN CERTCO

DIN CERTCO is the certification organisation of TÜV Rheinland Group and DIN, the German Institute for Standardization. It is highly regarded at home and abroad for its independence, neutrality, competence and more than 30 years experience in the field. The mark is awarded after testing/inspection by a neutral body and the evaluation of the results and is subject to subsequent surveillance.

DIN certification number - 7W0014.

Ingeo™

A natural plastic made from plants not oil.

This ingenious biopolymer made by NatureWorks LLC and known as PLA is made from 100% renewable and sustainable resources and is compostable.

Interestingly ecocard™ is the only UK partner of Ingeo™ for plastic card production. Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council is the first ecocard™ customer in the UK to have cards made from Ingeo™.