Packaging Symbols and Their Meaning – Take this 12 Question Quiz
Posted by aalabels on January 16, 2014
There are hundreds of packaging symbols found on our everyday household goods, ranging from washing powder to make-up. These icons are essentially there to keep the user safe from harm and to stop spillages, improper storage or accidents from happening. Some are voluntary symbols but some are set out by law and a necessary part of your product packaging.
But do consumers know the difference between these symbols, and do they actually understand the meaning of them?
To find out, we surveyed a sample of the general public, with no prior manufacturing or packaging knowledge, and asked them to identify some symbols commonly found on packaging/labelling. The results were interesting!
Out of the sample we surveyed, none of the respondents asked could name all of the 12 symbols correctly, and in fact, most of the respondents got over half of the descriptions wrong. There were also the people who knew “roughly” what the symbols meant, (for example, that something with an “X” was some sort of hazard, but couldn’t name the exact meaning).
More interestingly, 90% of those people questioned recognised the recycle symbol but only 40% recognised the shelf life. As this is a common symbol on items such as make-up and cosmetics, it is worrying that over half of people would not be aware that they need to dispose of the items after this time. With over 800-900 million lipsticks sold every year worldwide, that could equate to quite a number!
So if people aren’t always aware of the impact an icon has on their product storage, life or well-being, do some of the icons need to be on there at all? Or is it a consumer’s obligation to do their research and make themselves familiar with the symbols?
You can start the quiz below right away. You’ll get a summary of each symbol’s meaning when you’ve finished the quiz. How many did you get right? Leave a comment to let us know!
Packaging Symbols Quiz
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Take this multiple choice test to see if you know the meaning of 12 common packaging symbols!
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Tweet this if you didn’t get all the answers right1. Eco-Label Mark
The Eco-Label is an icon of a daisy, and is a voluntary certification awarded by the European Union to products and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their life cycle, from the extraction of raw material through to production, use and disposal. Launched in 1992 to try and introduce a European mark that consumers could trust, the Eco-label can now be found on over 17,000 products.2. Shelf Life
This symbol shows the product life of your item once it has been opened. The number in the middle of the “pot” shows the number of months that the product is good for before it should be thrown away.3. Flammable Symbol
The flammable symbol shows that the product has hazardous properties and is flammable. This means that you must be aware of factors such as proper storage, removal of any sources of ignition or other factors necessary to prevent a fire.4. Marine Pollutant
This icon shows that the product is a marine pollutant, or can be harmful to the environment.5. CE Mark
The CE mark is mandatory for certain items sold within the European Economic area, introduced in 1993. The CE mark is perhaps one of the most recognised marks and is used even by companies that are not based in the European Economic area but simply export there. The mark “ensures the free movement of products that conform to the legislation – eg safety, health and environmental protection – within the European market”. It covers a vast array of products. The full details of its application are detailed here: https://www.gov.uk/ce-marking6. The ‘e’ Mark
Any item between between 5 grams or millilitres and 10 kilograms or litres can be distributed within the EU with the “e” mark, without having to follow other rules about weights and measures.7. Recycling symbol
Perhaps one of the more widely used packaging icons, the recycle symbol is a sign that your packaging can be set aside for recycling and hopefully not end up in landfill.8. Keep Dry
This symbol is commonly found on cargo packages, and encourages the handler to keep the package dry. In fact, this symbol was the most confusing of all for our survey group. Half of the people we asked actually thought that the symbol meant the opposite – i.e. that the package could indeed be water resistant.9. WEEE Symbol
The WEEE symbol is an icon used to show that the product is electrical waste, and therefore cannot be disposed of in a normal waste receptacle, but must be recycled in accordance with the WEEE directive. See here for more details on WEEE and how your business can comply: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/business/topics/waste/139283.aspx10. Biological Hazard
Biological hazards present a threat to the health of humans and this symbol warns to take precautionary measures when using or handling the product.11. Harmful
These are similar to toxic products but not as dangerous. However, users should be careful to wear goggles and handle with care.12. Dispose of waste carefully
This symbol shows that it is necessary to dispose of this packaging at a suitable site, and that the waste should be disposed of with care in a waste receptacle.If you are interested in finding out more about symbols or want to understand how they can be used in everyday products lifecycle, you can find out more at the HSE (Heath and Safety Executive) website or by following the link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/chemical-classification/labelling-packaging/index.htm
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- Barcode Basics: How to Create a Barcode & Get it on Your Packaging
- How Not to Make a Product “Faux Pas” when Exporting to New Markets!
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