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recycled
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| LABEL REPORT CARD |
| How meaningful is the label? |
Is the label verified? |
Is the meaning of the label consistent? |
Are the label standards publicly available? |
Is information about the organization publicly available? |
Is the organization free from conflict of interest? |
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input? |
| Somewhat |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No1 |
Yes |
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1. The producer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim and is not free from its own self-interest.
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LABEL CATEGORY:
General Claims |
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WHERE YOU'LL FIND THIS GENERAL CLAIM:
 WOOD
PAPER
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WHAT THIS GENERAL CLAIM MEANS:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued guidance on how the term should be used. According to their guidance recycled claims may be used for products or packaging that contain either pre-consumer or post-consumer recycled materials. Unless the entire product is recycled the percent of recycled material should be indicated. However, the type of recycled material or the portion of post-consumer content is not required to be listed.
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WHO VERIFIES THIS GENERAL CLAIM?
Unless otherwise specified by a certification program, there is no organization behind this claim other than the company manufacturing or marketing the product.
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CONSUMERS UNION EVALUATION:
How meaningful is the label?
The "recycled" claim is somewhat meaningful. However, consumers may think it is all post-consumer content, that is products that have been already used including newspaper and milk cartons. However, pre-consumer paper waste such as shavings from the paper mill are unused.
Without more specific information, there is no way to determine whether products labeled as "recycled" are made from post-consumer or pre-consumer waste. To learn more about what is meant by the recycled label on a particular product, consumers must contact the manufacturer.
Is the label verified?
No, the FTC can investigate labels after they have been put on the market, if they feel they are deceiving the consumer under section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, to ensure truth in labeling practices in the marketplace. However, it does not have a system to verify "recycled" claims.
Is the meaning of the label consistent?
No, since the percentage of pre-consumer and post-consumer recycled content can vary significantly among products labeled as recycled.
Are the label standards publicly available?
Yes, the FTC has guidance on the use of the claim and they are available to the public.
Is information about the standards organization publicly available?
Yes
Is the organization free from conflict of interest?
No. There is no organization independently certifying this claim. The producer or manufacturer decides whether to use the claim and is not free from its own self-interest.
Was the label developed with broad public and industry input?
Yes, the FTC sought public comments when its guidelines were developed.
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