Understanding Materials, Environmental Terms and Certifications
At Ralik, we understand that navigating the different materials, symbols, certifications, and terminology used in packaging, janitorial products, and business supplies can sometimes be challenging.
This glossary is designed as a reference tool to help you better understand common materials, environmental terminology, and some of the standards and certifications you may encounter when selecting products.
Environmental attributes and end-of-life options can vary depending on the product, its composition, and the recycling or composting infrastructure available in your area.
Need help choosing the right product? Our team is here to help you identify the solutions best suited to your needs.
TYPES OF PLASTIC
Understanding Resin Identification Codes
Plastic products and packaging may display a resin identification code, generally represented by a number from 1 to 7. This code identifies the primary type of plastic resin used. However, it does not automatically mean that a product is recyclable in your area. Materials accepted for recycling vary by local programs and facilities.
Type 1 – Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) or Crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (CPET)
Type 2 – High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Type 3 – Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Type 4 – Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
Type 7 – Polylactic acid (PLA) and other plastics (OTHER)
ENVIRONMENTAL TERMS
Definitions to Help You Make More Informed Choices
Environmental terminology can have different meanings depending on the material, conditions of use, and end-of-life treatment. It is therefore important to consider the specific characteristics of a product and any applicable certifications.
Recycled or recyclable (Recycled or recyclable content)
STANDARDS, CERTIFICATIONS AND REFERENCES
Understanding the Different Designations
Standards, certifications, and recognition programs do not all serve the same purpose. Some apply to products, while others relate to materials, equipment, management systems, buildings, or other specific applications. Below are some of the designations you may encounter.
CFIA – Use in Food Establishments
NSF – National Sanitation Foundation
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATIONS AND REFERENCES
FSC – Forest Stewardhsip Council
CSA Z809 – Sustainable Forest Management
Type 1 – Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) or Crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (CPET)- Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET or PETE, is a lightweight, durable, and generally transparent plastic with good barrier properties against moisture and gases. It is commonly used for beverage bottles, certain food containers, packaging, and a variety of industrial applications. Recovered PET can be processed into materials used to manufacture new products, including textile fibres, containers, strapping, and other applications. Note: CPET, or crystallized PET, is a form of PET designed to withstand higher temperatures and is commonly used for certain food containers.
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Type 5 – Polypropylene (PP)- Polypropylene is a lightweight, durable plastic that offers relatively good resistance to heat and many chemicals. It is used in a wide variety of products, including food containers, lids, rigid and flexible packaging, fibres, and moulded components. Its properties make it particularly versatile for food service, industrial, and commercial applications.
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Type 2 – High-density polyethylene (HDPE)- High-density polyethylene is a strong, rigid plastic with good resistance to moisture and many chemicals. It is commonly used for bottles and containers for cleaning products, certain food containers, jugs, bags, and a variety of industrial applications. Its strength and versatility make it one of the most widely used plastics in commercial and industrial applications.
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Type 3 – Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)- Polyvinyl chloride can be manufactured in either rigid or flexible form. Rigid PVC is commonly used for certain containers, pipes, fittings, and building materials. Flexible PVC may be used for films, coatings, cables, tubing, and a variety of specialized applications. PVC recycling options vary depending on the facilities and programs available in a given area.
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Type 4 – Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)- Low-density polyethylene is a lightweight, flexible plastic with good resistance to moisture. It is widely used for packaging films, bags, plastic wraps, certain flexible containers, and other products requiring flexibility and durability. Recycling options for LDPE, particularly films and bags, depend on the collection programs available in your area.
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Type 6 – Polystyrene (PS)- Polystyrene can be manufactured in rigid or expanded form. It is commonly used for certain food containers, trays, lids, protective packaging, and insulation products. Polystyrene recovery and recycling options vary considerably depending on locally available programs and facilities.
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Type 7 – Polylactic acid (PLA) and other plastics (OTHER)- Code 7 is used for plastic resins and combinations of resins that do not fall within categories 1 through 6. This category may include certain polycarbonates, bioplastics, and multilayer plastics. PLA—polylactic acid—may also fall within this category.PLA – Polylactic AcidPLA is a polymer that can be produced from renewable resources such as corn starch and other plant-based sources containing sugars. It is used in certain food packaging, containers, utensils, thermoformed products, and other applications. PLA should not automatically be considered biodegradable or compostable under all conditions. Certain PLA products may be certified compostable when they meet specific standards and are processed under appropriate composting conditions. Not all local composting facilities accept PLA products.
Biodegradable- A material is considered biodegradable when microorganisms can break it down into simpler substances. The rate and extent of biodegradation depend on several factors, including temperature, moisture, oxygen, microorganisms, and environmental conditions. The term “biodegradable” does not necessarily mean that a product will break down quickly in nature, in a landfill, or in a home composting system.
Return - Biodegradability
- Biodegradability refers to a material’s ability to be broken down through the biological activity of microorganisms. Its evaluation may take into account the extent of decomposition, the time required, and the conditions under which biodegradation occurs.
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Compostable- A compostable product is designed to biodegrade under specific composting conditions and must meet defined criteria related to factors such as disintegration, biodegradation, and the quality of the resulting compost. A product certified for industrial composting is not necessarily suitable for home composting. It is also important to verify whether the product is accepted by composting facilities in your area.Return
- Degradable
- The term “degradable” means that a material can fragment or change as a result of physical, chemical, or biological processes. This does not necessarily mean that the material is biodegradable or compostable, nor does degradability alone indicate a product’s overall environmental performance.Return
- Durable
- In the context of a product, “durable” generally refers to its ability to maintain its properties and remain usable over an extended period of time.A longer product life may help reduce resource consumption when it enables products to be reused or replaced less frequently. Durability should nevertheless be considered within the context of a product’s overall life cycle.Return
Oxo-Degradable / Formerly Referred to as “Oxo-Biodegradable”- Certain plastics contain additives designed to accelerate fragmentation when exposed to factors such as heat, light, or oxygen. Fragmentation does not necessarily mean that the material will fully biodegrade.For this reason, the term oxo-degradable is preferable to language suggesting that these materials are necessarily biodegradable.
Recyclable- A recyclable product is one whose materials can potentially be recovered and processed for use as raw materials in new products. However, the fact that a material is technically recyclable does not necessarily mean that it is accepted by every recycling program. Always verify the recycling guidelines applicable in your area.
Recycled Content
Recycled content refers to the proportion of recovered materials incorporated into the manufacture of a new product.
Pre-Consumer Recycled Content
Material recovered during a manufacturing process before reaching the end user, when that material is diverted from the waste stream and used in a new application.Post-Consumer Recycled Content
Material recovered from products that have been used by consumers, businesses, or institutions and subsequently collected and processed for incorporation into new products.Möbius Loop
The Möbius loop is the familiar triangular symbol made up of three arrows and commonly associated with recycling. Depending on how it is used, the symbol may indicate that a product or package is recyclable or that it contains a specified amount of recycled material. Always refer to any information accompanying the symbol and to local recycling guidelines.
CFIA – Use in Food Establishments- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing a number of Canada’s food safety requirements. The term “CFIA approved” should be used with caution. The CFIA no longer generally pre-approves construction materials, packaging materials, and non-food chemicals used in food establishments. Depending on the product and its intended use, different forms of documentation may be used to demonstrate suitability, including previous CFIA documentation, a Health Canada Letter of No Objection where applicable, or a letter of guarantee from the manufacturer or supplier. For a specific product, always verify the documentation provided by the manufacturer.
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- NSF approved
- NSF is an independent organization that develops standards and provides testing and certification services in areas related to public health. In the food industry, NSF certification may indicate, for example, that commercial food equipment has been independently evaluated and meets the requirements of applicable NSF/ANSI standards for design and sanitation. The NSF certification mark should always be verified for the specific product and applicable standard.
BNQ – Compostable Product- The Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) offers certification programs for compostable products based on the requirements of international standards ISO 17088 and ISO 18606. These programs evaluate factors including disintegration during composting, aerobic biodegradation, potential adverse effects on compost quality, and the presence of certain regulated substances. The certification applies to conditions representative of industrial composting. Important: A product certified for industrial composting is not necessarily suitable for home composting.
LEED- LEED®—Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—is a rating and certification system for sustainable buildings and projects. LEED does not certify products. Certain products and materials may, however, contribute toward meeting the requirements of specific LEED credits when they satisfy the applicable criteria. It is therefore more accurate to say that a product may contribute toward the goals or credits of a LEED project rather than describing it as a “LEED-certified product.”
Green Seal- Green Seal® is an independent nonprofit organization that develops environmental standards and certifies products and services according to health and sustainability criteria. Its certification programs cover a range of categories, including certain cleaning products, janitorial products and services, paper products, personal care products, paints, and other products. The Green Seal certification mark indicates that the product or service has met the requirements of the applicable standard.
FSC – Forest Stewardship Council- FSC® certification applies to forest-based products and their supply chains. FSC Chain of Custody certification provides a system for verifying the traceability of forest-based materials from eligible sources through the supply chain to the finished product. Depending on the product, FSC labels may include FSC 100%, FSC Mix, and FSC Recycled. An FSC label indicates that the relevant materials meet the applicable requirements of the FSC system.
- UL ECOLOGO
- UL ECOLOGO® is a voluntary third-party environmental certification based on multiple criteria and a life-cycle approach. Depending on the applicable standard, criteria may address materials, resource use, human and environmental health, manufacturing, packaging, performance, and other environmental attributes. Products carrying the ECOLOGO® mark must meet the requirements of the standard applicable to their product category.
Cradle to Cradle Certified- Cradle to Cradle Certified® is a product certification program that evaluates several aspects of product design and environmental performance. Depending on the applicable standard and certification level, the assessment may consider areas such as material health, product circularity, clean air and climate protection, water and soil stewardship, and social fairness. The certification therefore represents more than simply indicating that a product is recyclable or contains fewer hazardous materials; it evaluates a broader set of criteria established by the program.
CSA Z809 – Sustainable Forest Management- CSA Z809 is a Canadian standard for sustainable forest management systems. It establishes a framework that enables organizations responsible for defined forest areas to demonstrate the implementation of sustainable forest management practices. It is more accurately described as a forest management standard than as a direct certification of an individual product.
OECD – Biodegradability Testing- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes testing guidelines used to evaluate the biodegradability of substances under controlled conditions. OECD Test Guideline 301, for example, includes several methods for evaluating ready biodegradability under aerobic aqueous conditions. Tests generally run for 28 days, and the pass criteria vary depending on the specific method used. It is therefore preferable not to make a general claim such as “60% biodegradable within 28 days” without identifying the applicable test method, testing conditions, and results for the specific product.
NEED HELP MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE?
Materials, certifications, and environmental attributes can vary considerably from one product to another.
In addition, a recyclable or compostable product can only be properly managed at the end of its useful life when the appropriate infrastructure is available and the product is accepted by the applicable program or facility.
Our team can help you better understand the available options and identify products that best meet your organization’s needs, operational requirements, and environmental objectives.
Contact our team for guidance tailored to your needs.
