WRAP | Material Stream Icon Guidelines | England and Wales
Redesigning the Recycle Now and Wales Recycles Material Stream Icon Guidance to help raise awareness of recyclable materials and encourage greater household participation in local recycling services.
Review | Content creation | Copywriting | Design
We worked with WRAP to review, update and redesign the Material Stream Icon Guidelines, which support both the Recycle Now and Wales Recycles campaigns. The guidelines make it easy for users to find and download the icons they need.
Originally launched in 2004, these icons provide a consistent national identity for recycling communications and are widely used across the UK in local authority materials, signage, labels, digital channels and vehicle livery.
Offering a range of visual options, the icons can be tailored to different audiences and channels, helping make recycling messages clearer and more recognisable.
Project overview
Project aim
To refresh the existing Material Stream Icon Guidelines, ensuring:
• A consistent design format across all icons in English and Welsh
• New icons were created for emerging recyclable materials
• Improved layout and usability of the guidance document
• Enhanced accessibility and download options through WRAP's website
Interactive PDF guidelines for the Material Stream Icons
Our role
Working closely with WRAP, we:
Reviewed the existing icons and guidance structure
Agreed an updated, more user-friendly layout and file format specifications
Refreshed existing icons and developed new icons to reflect new materials and recycling practices
Provided guidance on how to present and promote the icons on WRAP's website to maximise downloads and usage
Created a bilingual English/Welsh version, including newly designed Welsh-language icons!
Outcomes
WRAP launched the new interactive Material Stream Icons Guidance, now available online in English and Welsh language variants.
New and updated icons are accompanied by clear tips and advice on how, where and when to use them.
All icons and supporting files are available as free downloads from the WRAP website supporting consistent, high-quality recycling communications across England and Wales.
