Recycled, recyclable, certified and local; four terms that don’t mean the same thing

Recycled, recyclable, certified and local are words we often find on the labels and descriptions of the products we buy. They may seem similar, but each one tells us something different.

In short:

• Recycled tells us where the material comes from.

• Recyclable tells us what could happen to it at the end of its useful life.

• Certified means that a characteristic, product or process has been assessed according to specific criteria.

• Local explains where and, when enough information is provided, how the product was made.

A product can meet one, several or all four of these criteria. However, none of them means that a product is completely sustainable on its own. Sustainability cannot be summed up in a single word. It also depends on design, durability, manufacturing, how we use the product and what happens when we no longer need it.

Understanding these differences helps us make more informed choices and distinguish specific information from vague or overly general claims.

The difference between recycled, recyclable, certified and local

What does it mean when a product is recycled?

A recycled product contains materials made from recovered waste. In other words, part of its raw material has already had a previous life and has been transformed so it can return to the production system.

But the word recycled needs context. Before assessing a claim, it is worth asking:

• Which material is recycled?

• What percentage of the product does it represent?

• Does it come from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste?

• Is its origin traceable?

At Arpe, we use post-consumer rPET thread, made from recovered plastic waste such as bottles. The plastic is transformed into polyester thread, which we knit to create soft, lightweight and durable products.

For example, our microfiber towels are made from 100% polyester and contain 30% recycled rPET. This does not mean that 100% of the towel is recycled. It means that 30% of its composition comes from recycled material.

It may sound like a small detail, but it matters. The more specific the information, the easier it is to understand what we are buying.

What does it mean when a product is recyclable?

A recyclable product is designed using materials that could be recovered and transformed into new raw materials at the end of its useful life.

The easiest way to remember the difference is this: recycled describes the material’s past, while recyclable describes its possible future.

A product can contain recycled material and still be difficult to recycle if it combines fibers, adhesives, coatings or accessories that cannot be separated. The opposite can also be true; a product made from virgin material may still be technically recyclable.

Recyclability depends on several factors:

• The product’s composition.

• The number of different materials it contains.

• How easily its components can be separated.

• The finishes, inks and accessories used.

• The collection and recycling systems available in each location.

This is why monomaterial design matters. When a product is made from a single type of material, it may be easier to recover. Even so, recyclable does not mean that it will automatically be recycled. There must also be a system capable of collecting and processing it correctly.

At Arpe, we design our towels using a monomaterial polyester composition. Thinking about their end of life is important, but another step comes first: keeping them in use for as long as possible.

Why does durability matter too?

Before recycling a product, one of the best things we can do is use it for a long time.

A towel that maintains its performance wash after wash does not need to be replaced as often. Our life cycle analysis considers around 150 washes, and our towels are designed to stay with you for years when cared for correctly.

Because they are lightweight, absorbent and quick-drying, they also require less water, energy and detergent during use. Our life cycle analysis showed that, compared with a cotton towel of the same size, the Arpe towel analysed has a 76% lower carbon footprint, uses 58% less energy, 55% less water and 40% less detergent throughout its life cycle.

What does it mean when a product is certified?

A certification means that an organisation has assessed a characteristic, material, product, process or management system according to defined criteria.

Not all certifications verify the same thing. Seeing several logos together should not be the end of the explanation, but the beginning.

These are some of the certifications we work with at Arpe:

• Global Recycled Standard (GRS): verifies recycled content and its traceability within the scope of the certification.

• OEKO-TEX®: tests the textiles or components covered by the certification for harmful substances.

• ISO 9001: certifies our quality management system.

• ISO 14001: certifies our environmental management system.

• Certified B Corporation: assesses the company’s social and environmental impact, accountability and transparency.

A recycled-content certification does not automatically guarantee that a product is recyclable. In the same way, a certification that tests for harmful substances does not mean that the material is recycled. Each certification answers a different question.

To understand a certification properly, look for:

1. Its full name.

2. The organisation that awards it.

3. The material, product, process or company it covers.

4. The characteristic it verifies.

5. Whether it is current and applies to the product you are considering.

What does it mean when a product is local?

A local product is designed or manufactured near the place where it is sold or used. However, there is no universal distance that determines whether something can be considered local. This is why knowing the exact location and which processes take place there is more useful than seeing a label such as locally made.

At Arpe, we design and manufacture our textile products in Arenys de Munt, a small town near Barcelona. Inside our factory, we develop ideas, design, knit, print, cut, sew and prepare every order. When we need a process that we cannot carry out in-house, we work with nearby partners who share our values.

Working this way allows us to know the people behind every product, maintain greater control over quality and preserve textile expertise in our local area. It also reduces many of the journeys between different stages of production.

However, being local does not automatically make a product sustainable. The origin of its raw materials, the energy used, the quantities produced, its durability and its end of life also matter.

Can a product be recycled, recyclable, certified and local at the same time?

Yes. All four characteristics can exist in the same product, but each one must be assessed separately.

An Arpe towel, for example, can contain recycled rPET, have a monomaterial composition designed to facilitate recyclability, be covered by certifications applicable to its materials and processes, and be made in our factory in Arenys de Munt.

That does not make it a zero-impact product. No product is. What we can do is make conscious decisions at every stage, measure our impact and communicate clearly about both what we have already achieved and what we still need to improve.

How to read a label more carefully before buying

The next time you come across words such as recycled, recyclable, certified or local, ask yourself:

1. Which part of the product contains recycled material?

2. What is the exact percentage?

3. Does the recycled material come from pre-consumer or post-consumer waste?

4. What makes the product recyclable?

5. Can it actually be recycled where I live?

6. What does each certification cover?

7. Where was it manufactured and which processes took place there?

8. Was it designed to last and be used many times?

The goal is not to find a perfect product. It is to have enough information to make a better choice.

Better choices begin with better understanding

Recycled, recyclable, certified and local are not synonyms, and they do not compete with one another. They are four different pieces of a much bigger story.

At Arpe, we believe in telling that story with data without hiding the nuances. We design useful products for everyday life, make them with care in our own factory and work to ensure they last for years. Because consuming more consciously does not mean giving up beautiful things. It means choosing them with more information and caring for them for longer.