Packaging material markings
Recycling symbols on packaging — a guide to the markings
Recycling symbols are the abbreviations and marks that tell you what a pack is made of and which waste stream it belongs in. Most often you will see alphanumeric codes (PAP, PET, ALU), the Mobius loop and scheme marks such as the Green Dot. Below we explain what they mean and which ones we use on pastry packaging.
A recycling mark identifies the material — on its own it is not a guarantee that the pack will actually be recycled in a given municipality.
| Code | Material | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PAP 20 | Corrugated board | Transport and outer cases. |
| PAP 21 | Solid board (non-corrugated) | Pastry boxes for pralines, cakes, macarons. |
| PAP 22 | Paper | Bags, wraps, interleaves, inserts. |
| PET 1 / PP 5 | Plastics | Windows and domes; separate them before discarding the board. |
| ALU 41 | Aluminium | Foils and laminates — they hinder fibre recycling. |
| C/PAP 81 | Paper-based composite | Board with a plastic layer (e.g. coated). |
Where recycling symbols come from
The material code system was introduced by Commission Decision 97/129/EC. It assigns each material group a letter abbreviation and a number range: paper and board are PAP 20–39, plastics 1–19, metals 40–49, wood 50–59, textiles 60–69, glass 70–79 and composites 80–99. As a result the same symbol means the same thing across the EU — whatever language is printed on the pack.
The most commonly confused marks
Not every symbol on a pack is about recycling, and not every recycling mark means “recyclable in my town”. It is worth telling them apart:
- Mobius loop — indicates the material can be recycled; with a number inside it shows recycled content.
- Green Dot — a mark of a waste-collection financing scheme; it says nothing about recyclability.
- Material code (PAP 21, PET 1) — precisely identifies the polymer or fibre.
- Glass-and-fork symbol — food-contact approval, not a waste marking.
- “Bin” pictogram — sorting instruction, often required locally.
Recycling symbols and the PPWR
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 (PPWR) harmonises packaging labelling across the Union: material composition and sorting information must be standardised, legible and tied to a recyclability assessment. For manufacturers this means the material code stops being good practice and becomes part of compliance — alongside batch traceability, which we have applied for over 20 years.
Which marks we use at AS-INTER-BOX
Our pastry boxes are most often PAP 21 (solid board), bags and inserts PAP 22, and transport packaging PAP 20. Where the design needs a window or a barrier coating, we mark it with a separate code so the end customer knows what to separate before disposal. We prepare the marking artwork together with the packaging design.
Frequently asked questions
Related codes and topics
The recycling symbol — Mobius loop
Where the triangle of arrows comes from and what it actually communicates.
PAP 21 — solid board
The material of our pastry boxes, explained code by code.
PAP 20 — corrugated board
Transport and outer packaging.
PAP 22 — paper
Paper bags, wraps and inserts.
PPWR and packaging traceability
What the regulation changes from August 2026.
Ecology in practice
The materials, coatings and constructions we use.
Need packaging with the correct marking?
We will match the material, prepare the marking artwork and the declaration of compliance for food contact.