Composition
List the base material, films, coatings, adhesives, windows and accessories. Evidence for one component does not automatically apply to the complete finished package.
Claim
Identify the exact claim and its conditions. Collection and processing for recycling are different from decomposition under a stated composting or degradation environment. Avoid presenting these terms as interchangeable design styles.
Evidence
For public wording, match the evidence to the finished pack, destination and disposal conditions. The FTC cautions against broad environmental claims without suitable support. Review the scope before printing a symbol or statement on packaging. FTC environmental-claims guidance.
Related specification support
Packaging Structural Design
Develop a packaging construction around the actual product and its use.
Keep three different claims separate
A package can contain recycled fibre without the complete finished pack being accepted in every recycling system. Likewise, a compostability claim needs to identify the material and conditions it covers. Specify the claim you want to make before selecting wording.
Composition, disposal route and evidence
| Check | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Recycled content | Identify the material and supporting content information. | This describes an input to the material. |
| Recyclability | Consider the complete construction and collection context. | Accessories and finishes are part of the assessment. |
| Compostability | Identify conditions and applicable supporting evidence. | Do not substitute a broad biodegradability statement. |
Record the actual product, material or file version used for the comparison. Identify what remains undecided and which sample or document can resolve it.
Discuss environmental claims checklist
Share the product, proposed packaging and available specifications, with the sample or file relevant to the environmental claim.
Recyclable vs Compostable vs Biodegradable FAQ
Appearance alone is not evidence. Describe the specific supported material or design choice and its scope instead of making an unqualified claim about the whole product.
No. Recycling concerns collection and processing, while composting or degradation describes breakdown under stated conditions. Identify the exact claim, finished construction and relevant evidence rather than substituting one term for another.
No. Recycled content describes a material input. Recyclability also depends on the finished construction and collection context, including accessories and finishes; a component's evidence does not automatically cover the entire pack.