A Story of Sustainability and Design

Recycling is a central pillar of modern sustainability efforts, and the symbol that represents it is instantly recognizable—a triangle made of three arrows that chase each other in an endless loop. But where did this symbol come from, and how did it become such a universal representation of environmental consciousness?

The Birth of the Recycling Movement

The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of growing awareness around environmental issues. Events like the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, and the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring brought environmental concerns to the forefront of public consciousness. This awareness culminated in the first Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, 1970, in which millions of Americans participated in rallies, marches, and educational events to promote environmental protection.

It was against this backdrop that the Container Corporation of America (CCA), a large producer of paper-based products, launched a design competition in 1970. The CCA sought to highlight the importance of recycling and environmental responsibility by inviting art and design students to create a symbol that would represent the concept of recycled materials.

Enter Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson, a 23-year-old graphic design student at the University of Southern California, was one of the participants in the competition. He had only recently become interested in environmental issues but saw an opportunity to combine his newfound awareness with his design skills.

Anderson’s design, inspired by the Möbius strip and the work of Dutch artist M.C. Escher, boldly symbolizes infinity and interconnectedness. The three arrows in his design confidently represent the essential steps of the recycling process: collection, processing, and reuse. Each arrow seamlessly flows into the next, underscoring the principles of sustainability and circularity.

In Anderson’s words, the simplicity of the design was intentional. He wanted to create something clean, memorable, and easy to reproduce in different media. The design stood out to the judges, who selected it as the winner of the competition. As part of the prize, Anderson received $2,500, a significant sum at the time.

From Contest to Icon

What makes the recycling symbol a particularly unique design is how quickly it became iconic. After being selected as the winning design of the competition, the CCA adopted the symbol for their products.

Anderson himself did not profit beyond his initial award from the CCA. Despite this, he built a successful career in architecture and urban planning and remains confident about his role in creating one of the world’s most recognisable symbols. He wasn’t even aware his symbol was so widely used until he visited Amsterdam years later and saw it on all the bins throughout the city! It’s worth noting that the Container Corporation of America chose to put the symbol in the public domain, intentionally forgoing a trademark. While this decision was likely made with the best of intentions, our next blog post will delve into how the power of this simple symbol when misused or driven by poor motives, has significantly influenced the development of recycling into the flawed system we see today.

9% of all plastics worldwide are being recycled…once 

Does this mean the symbol is not effective, or is the system broken?

Today, the symbol comes in various forms: sometimes inside a circle, sometimes with additional text, and sometimes with variations that indicate specific types of recyclable materials: The Resin Identification Code (numbers 1 to 7)

Here’s a breakdown of the different types of plastic and their recyclability:

• PET (Type 1): Commonly used for disposable water and drink bottles, PET is one of the few plastics that is widely recycled. In a way, PET recycling is the success story from a recycling point of view. An important reason for this is that it has been the only polymer where the industry and consumer have established a system that allows for recovery. For many reasons, the widely used PET bottle has made this polymer the low-hanging fruit for the recycling industry.

• HDPE (Type 2): Used for items like milk jugs and detergent bottles, HDPE is also commonly recycled but still faces limitations.
• PVC (Type 3): Found in plumbing pipes and some packaging, PVC is rarely recycled because of its complex composition.
• LDPE (Type 4) and  PP (Type 5): These are used in plastic bags, squeezable bottles, and food containers. They are less commonly recycled because of the difficulties in processing them. The exception to this in the UK is milk bottles which get widely recycled due to a system being in place for this particular type of packaging
• PS (Type 6): Polystyrene, often used for Styrofoam, is largely non-recyclable and is a major environmental pollutant.
• Other (Type 7): A catch-all category for mixed plastics, these are seldom recycled.

In our future posts, we will deep dive into the 7 different types one by one.

The problem is not just technical but also economic. The market for recycled plastics is often weak, meaning that even materials that can be recycled are not always processed. As a result, a significant portion of plastic waste that is placed in recycling bins still ends up in landfills or incinerated. 

The recycling symbol, when used correctly and effectively, is possibly one of the greatest examples of image design with the potential to make real environmental change. Unfortunately, we have a way to go until that potential is reached. Join us on our mission to reduce plastic waste by recycling at home and with us at Precious Plastic Plymouth!