To US, they mean HOPE, they mean ‘LOOK AT ME’, they mean ‘DID YOU RECOGNIZE ME’? Yes, I used to be a lunch box!

Well ‘I AM STILL HERE’ and even though I wasn’t made to last longer than a meal, I am showing off on the streets, going to parties and carrying your precious little things.

Food packaging symbols are a proudly integrated part of our bag designs. We love them, we see them as sophisticated details that add originality and urban values to our collections.

Food Packaging Symbols Explained

This symbol is often used on containers, such as Tupperware, to show that the product is suitable for food use. It may or may not have the word “food” below the cup and fork.

Recycling – this logo is used internationally to show that the product can be recycled. This is not an indication that the packaging has been made from recycled material.

If you see a number in the middle of this image, that is to indicate the percentage of recycled material that makes up that product.

Plastic recycling – another widely used symbol to show that the plastic used in the packaging can be recycled. The PET refers to Polythene Terephthalate which is commonly used in this application. The number inside (1 – 7 ) defines the resin used in making the packaging.

BPA-Free packaging – BPA stands for bisphenol A, an industrial chemical used to make certain plastics and resin. Plastics labeled with a 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 are likely BPA-free. This is because they are made from traditionally BPA-free plastics, such as vinyl or polyester.

Phthalates are a family of harmful chemicals added to plastics. Therefore, more factories are switching to non-phthalate plasticizers.

Keep Me Tidy – this symbol is included to remind consumers to dispose of their waste in an appropriate manner. It does not necessarily relate to the type of packaging used, but is rather a campaign against littering.

Sustainable Forestry Initiative – this symbol or similar tree logo shows that the materials used to create the packaging were harvested from sustainable forests.

Compostable – this symbol is a registered trademark of European Bioplastics and is used to show that the packaging is certified to be compostable. Only products that have met the EU standard EN 13432/14955 can use this logo.

Forest Stewardship Council – this logo may be used on any wood based packaging, more likely seen at the tertiary stage. The FSC logo shows that the wood used came from well managed forests that have been independently certified to the rules of the FSC

­­­Vegetarian – pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, the product in the food packaging is suitable for vegetarians. There is an alternative logo that uses a tick rather than leafs, although the meaning stays the same.

Gluten Free – this states that the product does not contain gluten or any other wheat extracts. This will typically be very clearly labelled on products that match this description.

Allergy Advice – often products that contain ingredients that are common allergies will include this symbol. One of the most common ones to see is this symbol with “may contain nuts” below it.

Microwave – this is the symbol used to show that the food packaging is suitable for use in a microwave. An alternative symbol is the waves with the word “micro” included below. Always check to make sure this logo is present before trying to microwave it.

Product suitable for freezing – if this image is seen on your food packaging, then you are able to freeze the entire product without having to remove the wrapping first.

And this one?

It means ‘you can take me on your journey’.