Packaging eco-marking: what the symbols mean
What people encounter when looking at packaging
You pick up a bottle or a box — and immediately see three or four symbols: a triangle with arrows, a number inside, a green leaf, and the word “eco” in large letters. A logical question arises: are they all about the same thing or different? In fact, the manufacturer is required to apply one symbol, may voluntarily add a second, and the third may simply be marketing without any certification. You need to analyze each symbol separately, because they are regulated by different documents and mean different things.
Three types of symbols — and they must not be confused
Contradictory symbols at first glance on one package are normal, not a manufacturer’s error. They simply reflect different layers of information.
| Symbol type | What it means | Who regulates | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material code (PET, HDPE, PP, 01–07) | What the packaging is made of | TR TS 005/2011 | Yes |
| Möbius loop | The material can theoretically be recycled | Decision of the Customs Union Commission №769 dated 16.08.11 | No, but the requirement for disposal — yes |
| Eco-labeling (Life Cycle Sheet, EU Ecolabel) | The product has passed inspection throughout its entire lifecycle | Independent certification bodies | No, voluntarily |
That is where all the confusion comes from: the PET code only indicates the composition, the Möbius loop refers to material recycling 'in theory', and the green leaf with the word 'eco' and no certificate number legally guarantees nothing at all.
What the numbers inside the Möbius loop mean
If inside the symbol there is «50%» or «70%» — this is not the percentage of packages that were actually recycled, nor the efficiency of the regional collection system. This is the share of secondary raw materials in the composition of the packaging at the time of production. That is, 70% in the composition of the bottle — this is secondary PET that has already been recycled before. Nothing is said about what will happen to this bottle next.
A separate nuance: not all types of plastic are equally safe for repeated recycling. Codes 03 (PVC) and 06 (PS) contain substances that Greenpeace advises avoiding outright — both from an ecological and recycling perspective, because their cycle is limited. For comparison: cardboard can be recycled multiple times (studies show the possibility of 12–25 cycles depending on quality and recycling methods), whereas plastic can practically be recycled infinitely if it is 'clean' in composition and not mixed with other materials.
Mandatory labeling and voluntary certification — these are different things
TR TS 005/2011 requires that any packaging contain information about disposal — but the regulation does not dictate a specific symbol. Formally, the manufacturer only needs a textual warning like 'do not leave in the forest' — and the legal requirement will be fulfilled, although this does not look at all like environmental friendliness.
Voluntary certification is a completely different story. «Leaf of Life» is the only Russian marking that is included in the Global Association for Ecolabeling (GEN). To obtain it, a product is tested throughout its entire lifecycle according to standardized criteria: from raw materials to packaging and disposal. This is incomparably more serious examination than simply printing a label on packaging.
The same logic applies to organic certification: each link in the chain—production, packaging, storage, delivery—must be separately certified. If only raw material production is certified, but packaging and logistics are not, the entire product cannot honestly be called organically certified. By the way, this is a common trick: they show one certificate on the label, but in fact it only covers one stage.
How to check whether the mark is genuine or greenwashing
It is possible to distinguish a counterfeit from an authentic marking on your own, without special knowledge—only a simple algorithm is needed.
- Look for the code number of the AB-CDE-999 format on the packaging next to the 'EU Organic' label (EU Organic). If there is no number — the marking was applied illegally, which is a clear sign of greenwashing.
- Check the number in the public registries of certification bodies or via the Ecolabel Guide app — it allows you to find which body issued the certificate and for what it specifically applies using the code or a photo of the label.
- Pay attention to the wording: '100% naturally' or 'eco' without reference to a specific standard — this is a marketing slogan, not certification.
- Compare the label with the official image of the mark on the website of the certification body — counterfeits often distort proportions or colors.
- Check whether the certificate applies to the packaging or only to the contents — organic certification is often given to the product, while the packaging is not checked at all.
Common mistakes when reading eco-labeling
- Taking the Möbius loop as a guarantee that the packaging will be recycled specifically by you — this depends on local infrastructure, not the label.
- Confusing the percentage inside the loop with 'percentage of successful recycling' — in reality, this refers to the share of secondary raw materials in the composition.
- Taking the green label design for certification — color and image confirm nothing if there is no verifiable number nearby.
- Thinking that EU Organic is responsible for the eco-friendliness of the packaging — the standard regulates the product composition, not the packaging material into which it was placed.
- Ignoring the 03 and 06 codes — they indicate that the material contains harmful substances and is less suitable for reuse recycling.
A good sign that a brand communicates honestly with the consumer is when eco-labeling on packaging is confirmed by a number, a reference to a certification body, and is understandable without translation from the language of marketing. Everything else, including a beautiful green leaflet without numbers, should be perceived as advertising, not as a guarantee.
What people encounter when looking at packaging
You pick up a bottle or a box — and immediately see three or four symbols: a triangle with arrows, a number inside, a green leaf, and the word “eco” in large letters. A logical question arises: are they all about the same thing or different? In fact, the manufacturer is required to apply one symbol, may voluntarily add a second, and the third may simply be marketing without any certification. You need to analyze each symbol separately, because they are regulated by different documents and mean different things.
Three types of symbols — and they must not be confused
Contradictory symbols at first glance on one package are normal, not a manufacturer’s error. They simply reflect different layers of information.
| Symbol type | What it means | Who regulates | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material code (PET, HDPE, PP, 01–07) | What the packaging is made of | TR TS 005/2011 | Yes |
| Möbius loop | The material can theoretically be recycled | Decision of the Customs Union Commission №769 dated 16.08.11 | No, but the requirement for disposal — yes |
| Eco-labeling (Life Cycle Sheet, EU Ecolabel) | The product has passed inspection throughout its entire lifecycle | Independent certification bodies | No, voluntarily |
That is where all the confusion comes from: the PET code only indicates the composition, the Möbius loop refers to material recycling 'in theory', and the green leaf with the word 'eco' and no certificate number legally guarantees nothing at all.
What the numbers inside the Möbius loop mean
If inside the symbol there is «50%» or «70%» — this is not the percentage of packages that were actually recycled, nor the efficiency of the regional collection system. This is the share of secondary raw materials in the composition of the packaging at the time of production. That is, 70% in the composition of the bottle — this is secondary PET that has already been recycled before. Nothing is said about what will happen to this bottle next.
A separate nuance: not all types of plastic are equally safe for repeated recycling. Codes 03 (PVC) and 06 (PS) contain substances that Greenpeace advises avoiding outright — both from an ecological and recycling perspective, because their cycle is limited. For comparison: cardboard can be recycled multiple times (studies show the possibility of 12–25 cycles depending on quality and recycling methods), whereas plastic can practically be recycled infinitely if it is 'clean' in composition and not mixed with other materials.
Mandatory labeling and voluntary certification — these are different things
TR TS 005/2011 requires that any packaging contain information about disposal — but the regulation does not dictate a specific symbol. Formally, the manufacturer only needs a textual warning like 'do not leave in the forest' — and the legal requirement will be fulfilled, although this does not look at all like environmental friendliness.
Voluntary certification is a completely different story. «Leaf of Life» is the only Russian marking that is included in the Global Association for Ecolabeling (GEN). To obtain it, a product is tested throughout its entire lifecycle according to standardized criteria: from raw materials to packaging and disposal. This is incomparably more serious examination than simply printing a label on packaging.
The same logic applies to organic certification: each link in the chain—production, packaging, storage, delivery—must be separately certified. If only raw material production is certified, but packaging and logistics are not, the entire product cannot honestly be called organically certified. By the way, this is a common trick: they show one certificate on the label, but in fact it only covers one stage.
How to check whether the mark is genuine or greenwashing
It is possible to distinguish a counterfeit from an authentic marking on your own, without special knowledge—only a simple algorithm is needed.
- Look for the code number of the AB-CDE-999 format on the packaging next to the 'EU Organic' label (EU Organic). If there is no number — the marking was applied illegally, which is a clear sign of greenwashing.
- Check the number in the public registries of certification bodies or via the Ecolabel Guide app — it allows you to find which body issued the certificate and for what it specifically applies using the code or a photo of the label.
- Pay attention to the wording: '100% naturally' or 'eco' without reference to a specific standard — this is a marketing slogan, not certification.
- Compare the label with the official image of the mark on the website of the certification body — counterfeits often distort proportions or colors.
- Check whether the certificate applies to the packaging or only to the contents — organic certification is often given to the product, while the packaging is not checked at all.
Common mistakes when reading eco-labeling
- Taking the Möbius loop as a guarantee that the packaging will be recycled specifically by you — this depends on local infrastructure, not the label.
- Confusing the percentage inside the loop with 'percentage of successful recycling' — in reality, this refers to the share of secondary raw materials in the composition.
- Taking the green label design for certification — color and image confirm nothing if there is no verifiable number nearby.
- Thinking that EU Organic is responsible for the eco-friendliness of the packaging — the standard regulates the product composition, not the packaging material into which it was placed.
- Ignoring the 03 and 06 codes — they indicate that the material contains harmful substances and is less suitable for reuse recycling.
A good sign that a brand communicates honestly with the consumer is when eco-labeling on packaging is confirmed by a number, a reference to a certification body, and is understandable without translation from the language of marketing. Everything else, including a beautiful green leaflet without numbers, should be perceived as advertising, not as a guarantee.
Recent articles
MegaFon, BMW, VTB and more 240+ companies. See how it looks in the showcase reel:
Our branding agency is approached to order:
Branding agency services
