Chapter 07 · Materials & footprintsCircular Economy & Materials
Recycled content
Definition
Recycled content is the proportion of a product or material made from recovered material rather than virgin material.
References
Under the US FTC Green Guides, recycled content must consist of material recovered or diverted from the waste stream. A partially recycled product or package should clearly state the amount or percentage by weight, and claims distinguishing pre-consumer from post-consumer content require substantiation.
FTC Green GuidesUS FTC Green Guides, 16 CFR 260.13(a)–(d) · verified 2026-08-23Official text
This reference provides supporting context for how “Recycled content” is defined and used.
Overview
What it means in practice
Recycled content should be read as a materials and circular-economy term. Its meaning depends on the product, material pathway, infrastructure and evidence behind the claim.
In practice, users should state the boundary, material route, measurement method and evidence. That keeps recycled content clear enough to support review without turning it into a broad claim.
Why it matters
Recycled content matters because circularity claims can influence design, procurement, consumer understanding and reporting. Clear wording helps distinguish real material outcomes from broad environmental language.
Common misconception
A common error is to treat Recycled content as proof of circularity by itself. The stronger approach is to state the material route, quality, scale and final use.
Review questions
What boundary or material route is being described? What evidence supports the term? What condition, timeframe or modelling choice should be stated before a reader relies on it?
How it is used
The term appears in product design, procurement, footprinting, material selection, production and end-of-life decisions, where designers, manufacturers, procurement teams, life-cycle practitioners and waste managers use it to classify, assess or communicate the proportion of a product or material made from recovered material rather than virgin material.
Its correct use depends on the product system, life-cycle stages, functional unit, geography, timeframe and measurement method.