Recyclable vs. Recycled: What’s the Difference (and Why It Matters)?
In the world of sustainability, words matter. And two words that often get mixed up—sometimes unintentionally, sometimes not—are recyclable and recycled. They sound similar, but they mean very different things when it comes to the impact your purchase has on the planet. So, let’s clear it up.
Recyclable: a future possibility
When a product is labeled as recyclable, it means that—in theory—it can be processed and turned into something new. Sounds great, right? Well, yes and no. Here’s the catch:
- Just because something can be recycled doesn’t mean it will be.
- Many recyclable materials end up in landfill due to lack of proper sorting, contaminated waste streams, or simply because the local recycling facility doesn’t process that type of material.
- And crucially, a recyclable product is often made from entirely new materials—like virgin plastic or freshly mined aluminum—which means that a lot of energy, resources, and emissions went into making it in the first place.
Recycled: a past life put to good use
A product made from recycled materials, on the other hand, is one that has already lived a previous life and been transformed into something new. This means:
- It diverts waste from landfills and reduces the demand for virgin materials.
- It generally has a lower carbon footprint compared to a product made from new resources.
- It gives value to materials that might otherwise be discarded, helping to close the loop on waste.
So, when you see recycled on a label, it usually means that at least some portion of the product comes from materials that have already been used before—whether that’s recycled plastic, paper, glass, or metal.
The problem with blended materials
Another important factor to consider is whether a product is made from blended materials—combinations of different materials like plastic and bamboo or paper and plastic. While these combinations might sound more sustainable, they can actually make recycling much harder, or even impossible.
Bamboo-plastic blends: While bamboo is a renewable material, mixing it with plastic often means the product is neither compostable nor recyclable. Once the two materials are fused, separating them for recycling becomes extremely difficult.
Paper with plastic lining: Many paper food containers and coffee cups are lined with plastic to prevent leaks. Unfortunately, this means they can’t be recycled as regular paper or plastic without specialized processing—something that’s not widely available.
Multi-layered packaging: Snack wrappers and beverage cartons often contain layers of different materials like plastic, foil, and paper. These layers make them extremely difficult to process in traditional recycling streams.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, designing products for recycling rather than merely for durability is essential to building a circular economy. If a product can’t be recycled or composted at the end of its life, its sustainability claims should be questioned.
Which one is better?
If you’re looking for a more sustainable option, a product made from recycled materials is usually a stronger choice than one that is merely recyclable. That’s because recycled materials reduce waste and save energy compared to producing everything from scratch. But that’s not to say you should avoid recyclable products altogether. Sometimes, products simply need to be made from new materials for durability or other reasons.
The key is to look beyond the buzzwords. Ask yourself:
- How likely is this product to actually be recycled where I live? Some materials, like aluminum cans, have high recycling rates, while others, like soft plastics, are trickier.
- What percentage of this product is made from recycled materials? A “recycled” label doesn’t always mean 100% recycled content—it could be a small percentage, so check the details.
- What happens at the end of this product’s life? If it’s truly circular, it should be both made from recycled content and recyclable again.
A grain of salt
Companies love to market their products as recyclable because it sounds eco-friendly, but remember: recyclable does not necessarily mean sustainable. It’s always worth digging a little deeper. Supporting products made from recycled materials is a great way to encourage a market for reusing materials rather than extracting new ones.
At Put a Lid on It, we’re big believers in giving materials a second chance—that’s why our bowls with lids are made from recycled plastic. But we also know that sustainability is never one-size-fits-all. The more informed choices we make, the bigger impact we can have—anywhere, anytime.