According to rts.com: Complete Guide to Reading Recycling Symbols, July 10, 2023, by Nicole Portilla
The current universal recycling symbol (Three chasing arrows) is used worldwide to indicate if a material is recyclable. It is used on glass, metals, paper, plastics, and organics as well as other items such as batteries and composite materials. The recycling symbol was never copyrighted thus it is free to use within the public domain. Any company is free to use it, edit it, or integrate it into their own design. Unfortunately, this has allowed to symbol succumb to Greenwashing, misleading consumers when they purchase products.
Plastic recycling symbols are tied to a resin identification code to indicate the plastic that is used in manufacturers. The US currently has seven codes, however, much of the world has more. Products made from multiple types of plastics would have multiple codes, as well as codes for other types of materials used during the manufacture of the product.
