blog.illustrationcastle.com » Recycling Symbols for Designers

Recycling Symbols for Designers

By heather at 1:00 am on Saturday, October 28, 2006

Download Recycling Symbols Vector Graphics PDF (248 KB)

You think it would be easy finding a vectorized recycling symbol online…but nooooooo. I finally found ONE symbol which I used to create the set above… feel free to download the PDF above the vectorized symbols. In all that research, I got more aquainted with one of the world’s most recognizable icons… the humble recycling symbol.

“The universally recognized recycling symbol with three chasing arrows is a Möbius strip or unending loop… The Möbius loop symbol is in the public domain, and is not a trademark. The CCA originally applied for a trademark on the design, but the application was challenged, and the corporation decided to abandon the claim. As such, anyone is free to use the recycling symbol, although local laws may restrict its use in product labeling.” - Wikipedia

The chasing arrow logo with the white outlined arrows means that the package may be recycled where appropriate recycling programs exist.

The solid version is a variation of the theme and is often shown in green or other colors.

Arrows within a circle designate that the content is made from recycled materials. This recycling logo should not be used on printed material unless the paper contains a minimum of 30% post consumer waste.

Solid or white arrows in a black circle also indicate that the product contains recycled content. Often it will be accompanied by the symbol and a qualifying statement, for example, “Contains 50% Post Consumer Fiber.” When the solid black symbol with white arrows is used alone, it means that the product is 100% recycled.

Industry associations for glass, paperboard, and corrugated materials have all developed unique recycling symbols. On plastics it is used along with a numbering system (1-7) to help designate plastic resins used in the product.

A snapshot of the fabulous compilation of symbol lingo by Dion Zeus at EcoLingo.

Filed under: green design, business of illustration —

45 Comments »

Comment by Sally James

November 6, 2006 @ 12:52 pm

Hi Heather,

I have been searching high and low fora vector recycling symbol! Thnakgod I found your website!.

If you could email it to me that would be fab.

Many thanks in advance.
Sally

Comment by Fellene Gaylord

January 30, 2007 @ 7:42 pm

Thanks for posting this. It is a huge help.

Comment by Ben

January 31, 2007 @ 7:16 am

My saviour! How is it possible that possibly one of the world’s most recognisable logos is nowhere to be found on the internet as a vector download? It’s bonkers!

Thank you so much

Comment by Jon

February 2, 2007 @ 8:12 pm

Oh dear lord, I searched the internet about 2 hours before finding this.

Thanks soooo much.

Comment by jan

February 7, 2007 @ 11:05 am

thanks for your effort, just what i was looking for!

Comment by Amy

March 6, 2007 @ 5:52 pm

I echo all with a big thanks for making this available on your site! Unbelievable that no recycling organization or even gov. websites had them available. Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Jenna

March 30, 2007 @ 9:59 am

Wow, thank you for doing this. It is (of course) JUST what I’m looking for. A bunch of sites try to sell it. But I knew it had to be out there for free. Ta!

Comment by james chen

April 9, 2007 @ 7:13 pm

great for doing…..thanks>

Comment by Emmell

May 1, 2007 @ 10:18 pm

Thank you SOOOOOOO much for this. You are a champion.
A goddess of vector helpfulness.
(Considering the recycle logo is a non-copyrighted universal image, you’d think it would be more readily available. You’d think.)

Comment by Nick Dearden

May 6, 2007 @ 6:47 am

Thanks for making life easier, vector based recycle logo great!!! You helped save the planet.. well every bit helps.

Comment by GH

May 15, 2007 @ 1:38 pm

Thank goodness you posted this— I was searching high and low for vector-based recycle logos!

Well done.

Comment by Sharon

May 21, 2007 @ 10:10 pm

Heather, you are a gem! I managed to find this fairly quickly after beginning my search, so I’m grateful I didn’t spend hours scouring the net before coming across your site. These will come in very handy! Cheers.

Comment by gr4ph1c

June 14, 2007 @ 5:49 am

a humble thanks for your time and consideration of others…

Comment by Avery

June 22, 2007 @ 5:48 am

Thanks! I had no idea it was going to be so hard to find this logo online.

Comment by Gopal

June 27, 2007 @ 7:53 pm

Thanks a lot Heather.

Comment by David

July 4, 2007 @ 5:43 am

Great, Thanks, I expend more time than expected searching for this logos.

Comment by squips piplington

August 2, 2007 @ 4:52 pm

I’ve literally been searching the interweb for days now trying to find a vector of the recycle logo… and havent found a single one that is ready to download free.

this place is quite good

Comment by Nadine

August 10, 2007 @ 6:28 am

This is great. Thanks a bunch!

Comment by Adam Bognar

August 29, 2007 @ 2:00 pm

Thank you - this is most appreciated.

Comment by joan

August 31, 2007 @ 3:53 pm

Thank you - the school that I work at is going green and I’ve been searching for a free logo to help with teaching about recycling!

Comment by John

September 6, 2007 @ 1:46 pm

THANK YOU! a hard to find but necessary graphic!

Comment by Diego

September 14, 2007 @ 9:38 pm

Thank you, i really need that logo.

You are my hero :D

Comment by mave

October 6, 2007 @ 11:44 am

my hero! :^)

Comment by Jess

October 10, 2007 @ 4:29 pm

i believe you shouldn’t have to pay for universal symbol artwork - your site was the only place i found the vector art for free! THANK YOU!

Comment by Jerimiah

October 19, 2007 @ 8:36 am

Thank you.

Pingback by Recycling Symbols for Print and Web Designers « Infomancy

November 10, 2007 @ 5:39 am

[…] Heather Castles’ Recycling Symbols for Designers - vectorized recycling and plastics symbols for free use. […]

Comment by Stacey Gordon

December 1, 2007 @ 8:13 pm

Thanks Heather! It’s impossible to find one of these, you’re right.

Comment by Jody

December 6, 2007 @ 12:26 pm

Holy Moly!
What a chore to find these symbols!

Why doesn’t the Environment Canada web site have them for companies to download? Maybe that’s part of the problem with companies not putting the recyling information on their packaging and products!

Anyway, that’s a whole pant load!

Jody

Comment by Diana

December 8, 2007 @ 2:57 am

Thank you!!!!

I still need a trash-can with a bottle…i think it’s gone take 2 hours ;p

Comment by Tom

December 14, 2007 @ 2:51 am

I agree with all the previous posts! Unbelievable that these symbols are thát hard to find. And that in an era recycling is needed more than ever!

Comment by Ellie

January 8, 2008 @ 5:00 am

Brilliant! Thanks for this it has saved me alot of time.

Comment by Chloe

January 11, 2008 @ 7:02 am

Thankyou thankyou thankyou - yet again you have saved some designer’s (frustrating) day!

Comment by Bubbila

January 31, 2008 @ 2:46 pm

Thanks, have been looking for these logos for a while. They have come in handy…

Comment by DJ

February 11, 2008 @ 8:29 pm

Thanks, by chance found your logo’s. saved me plenty of time searching around for them. Well done.

Comment by JC

February 23, 2008 @ 1:20 pm

These are great! Do you know where to get an FSC vector Logo? These are ridiculously hard to find. Thanks again!

Comment by CrisMo

April 10, 2008 @ 9:27 am

Thanks for this. You are a true advocate for our planet. I hope we continue to do our bit as an industry.

Comment by Mark W, Sweden

April 12, 2008 @ 4:34 am

Thanks for posting this. Helped me really alot!

Comment by Syd

April 12, 2008 @ 4:04 pm

Dear Heather — Thank you SOOOOO much for offering these vector images!!! I’ve been searching high and low for something that works. Thanks for making it easier for us to show our commitment to sustainable lifestyles.

Comment by Matias

April 15, 2008 @ 11:55 am

Thanks. Another one saved by you.

Comment by Jennifer

April 15, 2008 @ 5:08 pm

Thank you! You’ve saved me lots of time. :)

Comment by bederk

May 21, 2008 @ 2:22 pm

thank you!

Comment by priscilla

May 28, 2008 @ 8:05 am

You are a gem for posting this! I humbly thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Comment by Meredith

June 1, 2008 @ 11:04 pm

Thank you so much. I agree with everyone here that this information should be much more accessible. You have saved me hours of work.

Comment by John Paling

June 8, 2008 @ 7:34 am

Dear Heather,
Thank you for your kind intentions but it is still not accessible to me as you clearly intend it to be.

Thank you but . .
How do I get a single image from a pdf page containing many, please?
Can they be downloaded singly for posting at the bottom of a document.

And also have you found why this sign is not freely made available by government agencies and recycling companies etc etc. What is going on behind this dearth of freely available recycling graphics, I wonder?