Ever find yourself staring at your packaging and wondering what all of those symbols mean? Whether it’s you who has received the packaging, or your customer who has received it, there’s always use of one or more signs on the box.
These packing symbols are recognized internationally and provide information about the product inside in an easy and comprehensible way. While using most of these symbols on your boxes is completely voluntary, it is advised to use ones that alert receivers or transporters about possible dangers during transit.
Though some symbols are self-explanatory, we have created a guide to help you recognize each symbol, understand its meaning, and also put it to use when required.
Handling and care symbols
This side up
This symbol, consisting of two arrows pointing towards the top, directs in which way the box is to be placed to ensure it is upright. If the packaging holds this symbol, it means that the contents must never be carried sideways or upside-down as they might break. It’s also a good indication of which side to open the box from.
Fragile
You might find the word “fragile” printed onto some boxes which makes it fairly self-explanatory. The items inside the box are prone to damage and thus, need to be managed carefully. Sometimes, you will find a cracked wine glass printed on the box instead of the word. This also represents fragility. In most cases, this might mean there is glass or glass-like components in the box.
Handle with care
If you see hands cupping a box, then this symbol represents ‘handle with care’. This means that the box contains a lot of intricate parts or parts that can get damaged when mishandled. Unlike the fragile sign, the handle with care sign signifies that the box must not be stacked and should be loaded and carried around with lots of care.
Keep Dry
The umbrella signifies the need to keep the box in a dry environment and never leave it in the rain. This symbol also tells you that the items inside the box are not waterproof. Read more about how weather affects packaging here.
Temperature-sensitive
Temperature-sensitive is depicted with the logo of a thermometer and the degree in which it should be stored. Even if the general rule of thumb is to keep it away from direct sunlight and the rain, some products (e.g. pharmaceuticals) might need to be stored in closer ranges of temperature.
Protect from direct sunlight
The ‘protect from direct sunlight’ sign shows a box under sunlight with a line across it. This could mean that the contents inside the box can be damaged when placed under the sun (e.g. food) or that they are flammable and can burn (see the next symbol). This symbol is similar to temperature-sensitive but less specific as to what temperature to store it in.
Flammable materials
The fire symbol represents flammable materials. This means that the items inside the box and the box itself can burn and cause damage when left near an open fire, smoke, hot surfaces, or sparks. This holds true for items containing chemicals or anything made of paper.
Do not open with knife
This symbol states that the package should not be opened with a knife because it runs the risk of damaging the contents inside.
Do not place near magnets
The contents of a package may be sensitive to magnetic forces. If this is the case, then this symbol prevents handlers from placing the package near a magnet.
Maximum stacking height
If you see two parallel horizontal bars with a number on top, it signifies the stack height. This would depend on the contents inside the box and the thickness and strength of the box itself. Make sure to check the number of the symbol (it isn’t always the same). If you see the number 4, then it means that only 4 or fewer boxes of a similar kind can be stacked on top of one another. Any more than 4 and you’re at the risk of damaging the boxes at the bottom.
Do not stack
In some cases, you will see two horizontal bars with a red line across. This means that the boxes cannot be stacked. These boxes are too fragile or contain items that can damage easily with pressure.
Do not hook
This sign is represented by a hook with an X marked on it. It means that the boxes are too heavy to be hooked onto something or to be carried using a hook. Doing so might cause the boxes to open from below.
Do not lift
A person trying to lift the box with a prohibition sign on it is the symbol telling you that the box may be too heavy to lift alone. You might need a trolley or the help of a second person. Watch out for either of these symbols as shown below.
Scope
The scope symbol represents the center of gravity, and lets handlers know the weight distribution of the contents of the package.
Two-person lifting
If you see two people lifting the box in the symbol, it means that the box can be lifted with the help of another person or a few more people.
Trolley lifting
If the sign shows a trolley with boxes on it, it would mean that you would need to use a trolley to lift the box. It is advised not to ignore this symbol since it could mean that the boxes not only need to be lifted properly but also placed back on the ground smoothly.
Sustainability symbols
Recycle sign
This is one of the most commonly recognized signs on any box. The recycle symbols signifies that a part of the box has been recycled before, made from recycled materials, or that the entire box can be recycled after use. This symbol is a representation of sustainable practices on the part of the shipper.
FSC sign
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification ensures suppliers and businesses are seeking, buying, and using materials that come from well-managed forests and recycled sources. The sign is to say that the materials of the box are FSC approved.
It is important to note that not everyone can use the FSC label. Due to the Chain-of-Custody certification process, every business that wants to produce or outsource an FSC-certified product or package must follow FSC guidelines.
Tidy man
The sign of a man disposing of waste in a trash can signifies the general act of being responsible when it comes to discarding your boxes or the items inside (e.g. tissue paper, bubble wrap, etc).
Plastic recycling
Plastic recycling signs depend on what type of plastic was recycled. It is represented with the recycle symbol and a number in the middle. The number should tell you the type of plastic that was recycled and used.
1 - Recycling PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
This type of plastic is used to make water bottles and other single-use items.
2 - Recycling HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
This plastic is found in slightly more sturdy plastic items such as shampoo bottles and tubs.
3 - PVC (Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride)
You have probably heard of PVC pipes, this plastic is tough and good to be used in any weather and thus is used for piping and siding.
4 - LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
This is a more flexible plastic found in shopping bags.
5 - PP (Polypropylene)
This type of plastic has a high melting point and thus can sustain hot liquids or solids. It is used in some cups and straws.
6 - PS (Polystyrene)
Styrofoam is essentially made of this type of plastic. It is more rigid than other types.
7 - Other Plastic Types
Any other type of plastic or resins that don’t fall under the above categories are classified as ‘other’.
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There you have it! These are some of the most commonly used packing symbols on shipping cartons or mailer boxes. This list of shipping symbols is not exhaustive, and you may find that there are certain symbols that are country-specific or even specific to the type of packaging and the use (e.g. food packaging).
In addition, there are other icons for packaging that provide a visual way to communicate important product information. They serve to quickly and efficiently convey details like ingredients, usage instructions, and recycling guidelines.