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Packaging Symbols: What Each Mark Means and Commits You To
By Packaging symbols are not one family. Some are handling instructions for whoever moves the box. Some identify a material. Some are environmental claims. Some need a license or a certificate. And one mark covered here belongs to another region. Each kind commits the brand that prints it to something different. So it is worth knowing which kind a symbol is before it goes on your mailer box.
Handling Packaging Symbols: Instructions, Not Protection
Handling marks tell carriers and warehouse staff how to treat a package. Wikipedia’s packaging entry names the standards behind them, ASTM D5445 and ISO 780, and shows three of them: “This way up” (two upward arrows), “Fragile material” (a broken glass) and “Keep away from water” (an umbrella with rain).
ISO 780 describes its symbols as conventionally used to convey handling instructions. It adds that they “should be used only when necessary.” It does not cover dangerous goods, which carry their own labels. The guide to shipping frozen food covers the dry ice label.
The most useful line comes from ASTM D5445: “The use of pictorial symbols does not provide any guarantee of satisfactory handling; proper protective packaging is therefore of primary importance.” A fragile mark does not make a box stronger. The box does that.
Resin Codes: Not a Recycling Claim
The number inside a small triangle on a plastic part is a resin identification code. ASTM D7611, the standard for these codes, is direct about what they are not: “Resin Identification Codes are not ‘recycle codes.'” The code names the plastic. It does not mean the item was recycled, or that a program exists to recycle it. The standard also says “recyclable” or other environmental claims “shall not be placed in proximity to the Code.”
One of the pages benchmarked here describes the number as telling you what was recycled. ASTM says it tells you the resin.
Recycling and Environmental Claims
A recycling symbol or an “eco friendly” mark is an environmental claim. In the US, the FTC’s Green Guides describe when one can be made without misleading buyers. For “recyclable” and “eco friendly”, see the benefits of rigid boxes guide. For “biodegradable”, see the mylar vs rigid packaging guide. Treat any of these symbols as a claim you need to be able to back up.
The FSC Logo: Certified or Licensed Users Only
FSC says every FSC label “stands for sustainable sourcing.” Its page on using its logo says the logo is for organizations FSC has certified or licensed. It lists separate routes for chain of custody certificate holders and for brands with a promotional license. Before an FSC mark goes into your artwork, ask which of those routes covers it. The guide on butcher paper in the oven explains what FSC certifies and what it does not.
The Box Maker’s Certificate on Shipping Boxes
The seal printed on a corrugated box, typically on the bottom, is a box maker’s certificate. Wikipedia’s corrugated fiberboard entry lists what it shows: a burst or edge crush test, a size limit and a gross weight limit. It adds that the certificate “is not required, but if used, it implies compliance with regulations relating to the certificate.” On corrugated shipping boxes, print one only when the board actually meets what it states.
The Glass and Fork: Food Contact, Not Safety
The wine glass and fork symbol comes from the EU’s food contact rules, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, in force in 2026. Article 15 covers materials not yet in contact with food. They must carry the words “for food contact”, a specific indication of use, or that symbol, unless they are clearly meant for food contact already. It tells a buyer the material is meant for food contact. It is not a safety rating, though the source page for this post describes a “food safety” symbol as meaning the material is safe.
Packaging Symbols Side by Side
| Symbol | Kind | What it commits you to | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| This way up, fragile, keep dry | Handling instruction | Nothing about protection; the box still has to protect | ISO 780, ASTM D5445 |
| Number in a small triangle | Material code | Naming the resin correctly; no “recyclable” beside it | ASTM D7611 |
| Recycling or eco mark | Environmental claim | Evidence for the claim | FTC Green Guides |
| FSC tree | Licensed mark | Certification or a license | FSC |
| Box maker’s certificate | Strength statement | The board meeting what it states | The rules the certificate refers to |
| Glass and fork | EU legal mark | Material intended for food contact, in the EU | Regulation 1935/2004 |
Which Packaging Symbols to Print on Your Own Box
- Handling marks where they help, and only where needed, as ISO 780 advises. Pair them with packaging that actually protects.
- A resin code only on plastic parts, naming the right resin, with no recycling claim beside it.
- Recycling or environmental marks only when the claim behind them holds.
- The FSC logo only through a certification or license that covers it.
- A box maker’s certificate only when the board matches it.
- The glass and fork only for food contact materials sold in the EU.
Custom Boxes Deals prints box artwork in CMYK or Pantone, and design support is free. Symbols can be placed with the rest of the artwork. Check each symbol against the rules above before you approve the artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do handling symbols protect my product?
No. ASTM D5445 says pictorial symbols do not guarantee satisfactory handling, and that protective packaging comes first.
What does the number inside the recycling triangle mean?
It is a resin identification code naming the plastic. ASTM D7611 says these are not recycle codes.
Can I print the FSC logo on my boxes?
Only through FSC certification or an FSC license. FSC says its logo is for organizations it has certified or licensed.
Do I need to register a symbol with ISO before using it?
No source read for this post, including ISO 780’s published summary, mentions such a requirement. ISO 780 describes symbols conventionally used to convey handling instructions.
Anthony Kim
Hello, I'm Anthony Kim, a seasoned packaging consultant and designer. With a professional journey spanning over four years, I've evolved from a budding designer to a recognized expert in the field. Currently holding the position of Packaging Consultant, I've honed my skills in creating not just visually stunning packaging but also solutions that align with strategic business goals.
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