The Nordic recycling symbols, as part of a unified system implemented across the Nordic countries, include a series of standardized pictograms designed to represent different types of waste. Each symbol consists of a specific icon, colour, and fraction name, making it easier for citizens and businesses to correctly sort their waste. In addition to household waste, recycling centres have symbols for more specific types of waste.
These symbols are used across various platforms including household bins, recycling centres, packaging, and public signage. They are free to use, and municipalities and companies can choose from the available symbols to suit their local needs. The system aims to simplify waste sorting, improve recycling rates, and support the circular economy. The overarching goal of the Nordic Recycling Symbols is to simplify waste sorting for everyone in the Nordic region, from consumers to producers, thereby enhancing recycling rates and supporting the circular economy.
This standardized approach across the Nordic countries ensures that citizens receive consistent communication on waste sorting, making it easier for everyone to participate in effective waste management. The original Danish pictogram system for waste sorting was designed in 2016 in a joint initiative by Cicular Denmark, Local Government Denmark (KL) and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The system was developed via collaboration between municipalities and waste companies, the recycling industry, packaging producers and retailers as well as citizens in the Nordic countries: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
Nordic Recycling Symbols: How it works
The system currently consists of about 100 different pictograms which can be used for waste collected at households and companies – e.g. glass, metal and plastics – and waste collected at recycling centres, e.g. construction and demolition waste, large electronics and garden waste etc.
The Nordic recycling symbols system is easy to understand and navigate. It is built on three core principles: it is free, it is available for anyone, and it works on the Lego brick concept: flexible yet uniform in design. The system is free of charge; citizens or municipalities only cover the expenses for printing of signs, stickers or labels for their own use. This free, non-profit principle is crucial to ensure the widespread adoption and use of the system and to making sure that citizens find the same waste sorting symbols wherever they are – at work, at home, in public places, at the supermarket etc.
The goal of the Nordic pictogram system-project has been, and still is, to achieve correct and increased waste sorting on a Nordic level, through uniform product and waste labelling.
The idea is that the consumer can find the respective sorting label on both, the packaging and the bin while at the point of disposable to guide the correct sorting, making it a visual link between the empty package and the waste container to help the consumer to sort correctly.
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Design guidelines for pictograms on packaging
Ther various Nordic countries have their own guidelines for the Nordic Recycling Symbols.
The pictograms, however, are overall identical – except for language.
The key components of the system for the Nordic Recycling Symbols are the pictograms and symbols, the colour coding and the flexibility and adaptation.
The system uses a set of standardized pictograms, each consisting of a symbol, colour, and fraction name.These symbols represent various types of waste such as garden waste, metal, glass, paper, hazardous waste, and more.
The symbols are designed to be simple and easily recognizable to ensure effective communication.
Each waste category is associated with a specific colour, which is used consistently across all signage and labels. Examples include green for garden waste, blue for glass, and red for hazardous waste.
This colour coding helps users quickly identify the correct bins for their waste.
The system allows for flexibility in implementation, enabling municipalities and companies to adapt the symbols to local needs while maintaining overall coherence.
Users can choose from approximately 100 Nordic Recycling Symbols and adapt them to various formats, including labels for bins, signs for recycling centres, and informational materials.
Nordic Recycling Symbols Download: Downloadable Resources
To assist users in implementing the waste sorting system, the following resources are available for download:
1. Pictogram Files:
High-resolution EPS files for printing and low-resolution PNG files for digital use.
2. Colour Codes
Detailed colour specifications in CMYK, RGB, HEX, and Pantone formats.
3. Design Templates
Templates for bin labels, signs, and other informational materials.
You can download the Nordic Recycling Symbols for Sweden here and find a detailed user manual here.
By following the guidelines, municipalities, companies, and individuals can contribute to a more effective and unified waste sorting system, ultimately supporting the Nordic environmental goals and the circular economy.
Plans for a Common European Standard for Packaging Labelling
One of the challenges associated with packaging labelling is the absence of a unified standard across Europe. The current system is based on the Nordic Recycling Symbol labelling model, but variations exist between countries, creating difficulties for producers operating in multiple markets.
The PPWR includes a proposal for developing common sorting symbols to be used across Europe. Efforts are underway to create such a unified system. Nordic participants involved in developing the Nordic labelling system have emphasized the benefits of this approach. However, the specifics of what a future European standard for packaging labelling will entail and when it will be implemented remain uncertain. In the meantime, affiliated producers are encouraged to continue using the symbols from the Nordic system for labelling their packaging.
Conclusion
The Nordic Recycling Symbols system represents a significant step towards more efficient and sustainable waste management. By standardizing symbols, colors, and labels, it simplifies the process of waste sorting for both citizens and businesses. This harmonization not only improves recycling rates but also supports the circular economy across the Nordic region. While the path to a unified European standard is still evolving, the Nordic system sets a valuable precedent for future developments in other countries. Clear and consistent communication of the symbols ensures that the recycling process is optimized for all participants, from consumers to producers, ultimately contributing to environmental protection.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us in case of further questions. We’d be happy to support you in the design of appropriate recycling labels, not only for the Nordic markets, but also for the rest of Europe, especially France, Italy, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.
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