The universal recycling symbol is a triangle made up of three arrows looping back on themselves in a clockwise direction. This indicates that a product can be recycled, but it does not denote whether it has been produced from recycled materials. It can sometimes be found with a percentage in the middle, which signifies how much of the product is derived from recycled materials.

Recycling aims to reduce the consumption of raw materials, thereby reducing energy usage, air pollution, and water pollution. It also offers a sustainable solution to regular waste streams by lowering input into municipal landfills.