How to recycle every part of our packaging.
Pots, lids, labels, pipettes, pouches and delivery boxes. Here is what each part is made of and where it should go next.
Start with the label
If it peels off easily, peel it off.
Separating the parts helps each one reach the right recycling stream. If a label will not come away cleanly, leave it on and recycle the pack as it is.
Your pack, part by part
Which pack have you got?

Capsule and powder pots
75ml to 500ml
Pot
HDPE or PP75ml and 125ml pots are HDPE, 250ml and 500ml pots are PP. Empty the pot before recycling. Recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingLid
HDPEUnscrew it and recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingLabel
PPIf it peels off easily, recycle it with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service. If it does not, leave it on.
Plastic recyclingSilica sachet
TyvekTake it out of the pot before recycling and put it in your general waste.
General wasteScoop, in powders
PPTake it out of the pot before recycling. Check what your local service accepts.
Check locally

Dropper bottles
15ml to 100ml
Bottle
Amber glassEmpty it, then recycle with glass.
Glass recyclingPipette tube
GlassSeparate it where you can and recycle with glass.
Glass recyclingPipette collar
HDPE and PPSeparate it where you can and recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingPipette bulb
TPE or rubberSeparate it where you can. Check what your local service accepts.
Check locallyLabel
PPIf it peels off easily, recycle it with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service. If it does not, leave it on.
Plastic recycling

Large liquid bottles
200ml to 500ml
Bottle, 250ml and 500ml
Amber PETEmpty it, then recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingBottle, 200ml
Amber glassEmpty it, then recycle with glass.
Glass recyclingCap
HDPEUnscrew it and recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingSeal
LLDPERemove it where you can and recycle with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Plastic recyclingLabel
PPIf it peels off easily, recycle it with plastics where accepted by your local recycling service. If it does not, leave it on.
Plastic recycling

Refill pouches
Capsules and powders
Pouch
PP-BOPPEmpty it, then recycle with soft plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Soft plastics

Glass jars
150ml to 250ml
Jar
GlassEmpty it, then recycle with glass.
Glass recyclingLid
Aluminium with EPE linerTake it off the jar, then recycle it where accepted by your local recycling service.
Check locallyLabel
PaperThe label is home compostable. That covers the label only, not the jar or the lid. Peel it off if it comes away easily.
Check locally
Three simple rules
Works for every pack.
- 01
Empty it
Finish the contents or empty what is left before anything goes in the recycling.
- 02
Separate it
Take apart anything that comes away easily, such as lids, caps, seals and pipettes.
- 03
Check locally
Collection and sorting differ by area, so follow your local rules if they say something different.
Delivery packaging
And what it arrived in.
Cardboard box
CardboardFlatten it and remove anything that is not paper, then recycle with card.
Paper and cardPulp box
PaperReuse it if you can, then recycle with paper and card.
Paper and cardPaper mailer
Paper and LDPETake everything out, then recycle with paper where accepted by your local recycling service.
Paper and cardPaper bubble wrap
PaperReuse it if you can, then recycle with paper where accepted by your local recycling service.
Paper and cardPaper tape
Paper and rubberRecycle with paper and card where accepted by your local recycling service.
Paper and cardPolythene mailing bag
LDPETake everything out, then recycle with soft plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Soft plasticsGrip seal bag
LDPETake everything out, then recycle with soft plastics where accepted by your local recycling service.
Soft plastics
Reading the label
What the plastic codes mean.
The number inside the recycling triangle tells you the type of plastic, which helps you match it to your local service.
| Code | Plastic | Where we use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PET | Large liquid bottles |
| 2 | HDPE | Smaller pots, lids and caps |
| 4 | LDPE | Mailing bags, grip seal bags and seals |
| 5 | PP | Larger pots, labels and pouches |
Questions
Recycling, answered.
Can I recycle Metabolics pots?
Yes. Our pots are HDPE or PP plastic, intended for plastic recycling. Empty the pot, unscrew the lid and follow your local sorting instructions.
Do I need to remove the label before recycling?
Only if it comes away easily. Separate any part that is readily removable. If a label will not peel off cleanly, leave it on.
How do I recycle a dropper bottle?
Empty the bottle and recycle the amber glass with glass. Separate the pipette where you can: the glass tube goes with glass, the collar with plastics, and for the bulb check what your local service accepts.
Can I recycle Metabolics pouches?
Our pouches are PP-BOPP, intended for flexible plastic recycling. Empty the pouch and recycle it with soft plastics where accepted by your local recycling service, as not every area collects them.
Are your labels compostable?
The paper labels on our glass jars are home compostable. That covers the label only, not the jar or lid. The labels on our pots and bottles are PP plastic.
Can I recycle the delivery packaging?
Yes. Cardboard boxes, paper mailers and paper bubble wrap go with paper and card, and polythene bags go with soft plastics, where accepted by your local recycling service.
Why does recycling differ where I live?
We can tell you what each part is made of and where it is intended to go. Collection, sorting and acceptance differ between countries and local services, so your local rules always come first.
Based on our packaging records. Each part is listed with its intended recycling stream, but collection, sorting and acceptance differ between countries and local services, so please follow your local rules.