Universal Recycling Symbol
International symbol indicating recyclable materials or recycling facilities.
Description
The universal recycling symbol consists of three chasing arrows forming a Möbius strip triangle. It was designed by Gary Anderson in 1970 as part of a contest sponsored by the Container Corporation of America for Earth Day. The symbol represents the three stages of recycling: collection, processing, and purchase of recycled products. The symbol is in the public domain and has no single owner. Variations with numbers inside the triangle (resin identification codes 1–7) identify the type of plastic resin used in packaging.
Origin & Cultural Context
Designed by Gary Anderson in 1970 for a contest sponsored by the Container Corporation of America.