What “Recycled” Means on a Bag Label

Recycled content claims should refer to material recovered or diverted from the waste stream, and partly recycled products should say how much.

Published October 31, 2026 · 3 min read · Topic: Materials, Labels & Claims · Materials & labels

Typical situation

A backpack is described as made from “recycled materials”, and you want to know how much of it.

Main answer · berabags Editorial Team · Selection view

The Green Guides say marketers should make recycled content claims only for materials that have been recovered or diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process or after consumer use. Products made partly from recycled material should be qualified, for example “Made from 30% recycled material”.

What the source says

Recycled content claims should be made only for material that has been recovered or diverted from the waste stream, during manufacturing or after consumer use.
Claims for products or packages made partly from recycled material should be qualified, for example “Made from 30% recycled material”.
Products with used, reconditioned or remanufactured components should qualify their recycled content claims clearly and prominently, to avoid deception about the components.

What this means when you shop

Look for a percentage.
Look for the part of the bag that the claim covers.
Check whether it is the fabric, the lining, the packaging or all of them.
Ask the seller if the listing is not clear.

What it does not tell you

Recycled content does not by itself say how strong, long-lived or safe a material is. It is a statement about where the material came from.

Two example questions

Is the recycled material in the shell fabric, the lining or only the packaging? Is the percentage by weight or by the number of parts? The FTC example gives a share of the material, such as 30 percent. A listing that states a share and a part lets you compare it with another bag, which a general word does not.

Where this answer stops

The FTC summary does not explain how a share is measured or verified. A third-party certificate may help, and the next articles in this group explain how to read one. This is not legal advice.

Sources and further reading

FTC: Environmental Claims, Summary of the Green Guides

Three more perspectives

berabags Editorial Team · Selection view

Look for a percentage and for the part it applies to. “Made from 30% recycled material” can be checked, and “made with recycled materials” is hard to compare.

berabags Editorial Team · Purchasing view

Compare two bags on the same basis. A bag with a clearly stated share is easier to judge than one with a general statement.

berabags Editorial Team · Maintenance view

A recycled material may behave much like a new one. Care instructions matter more than the origin, so follow the label.

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