The Mobius Loop
The internationally-recognised recycling symbol is the 3 chasing arrows icon, the Mobius Loop.  Each arrow represents an aspect of a successful recycling programme: collection, remanufacturing/reprocessing into a new product, and finally purchase by the consumer.  The symbol is only supposed to be used on goods that are 'recyclable' or include 'recycled content', but it has no precise meaning.

This symbol may be found on a broad range of products made of a variety of materials. There are a number of symbols which commonly appear on packaging products. Some of these indicate the whether the item is recyclable, whilst others show the recycled material content.

Cardboard
The symbol (A), called the Mobius loop, is most commonly found on cardboard packaging and denotes that the item is recyclable. 

If the centre of the loop contains a number (B), this means that the item is made from a certain percentage of recycled materials.  However, use of this symbol is voluntary. Some goods contain recycled materials but do not carry this symbol.  

Recycled content does not mean it is necessarily better for the environment and it is often inappropriate, particularly for packaging used for food, toiletries and cosmetics.

A third 'recycled' symbol (C) is also in use.  This symbol differs from the first two by having solid black arrows within an outer black circle.  The outer black circle denotes that at least some content came from recycled material. This symbol is also seen with arrows of a particular colour.

Another symbol often displayed on paper and cardboard packaging is the RESY recycling symbol (D).  This symbol guarantees that packaging with this symbol is recyclable and will be accepted by cardboard recyclers.

Plastics
Plastic bottles, containers and packaging typically have a symbol that indicates the type of plastic resin from which the item was made.  The resin coding system was introduced in 1988 by the American Society of Plastics Industry (SPI).  The symbols imprinted on plastic bottles, containers and packaging are a variation of the original three wide mobius arrows.They have been modified to a simpler and thinner version.

On a bottle, the symbol can usually be found on the bottom, molded into the plastic itself as a raised impression and thus not always easily seen.  The symbol includes a number within the mobius arrows, and usually, but not always, the chemical resin below the mobius arrows in acronym form.  

Although presence of the symbol implies that the plastic item is recyclable, the symbol is actually only intended to identify the plastic resin from which the item was made.

Recyclability is ultimately determined by the local collections and reprocessing facilities. These types and their most common uses are shown below:

Soil Association
The Soil Association symbol is a national independent quality mark (operating under EU Regulation No. 2092/91) for organically grown food and other products, such as compost.  The symbol is recognised by all the major supermarkets and independent retailers.  It is awarded to farmers, growers, food processors, distributors, retailers and industrial manufacturers who follow the standards laid down by the Soil Association.  It safeguards consumers from fraudulent trading and protects producers and manufacturers from unfair competition.