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Recycled Content Explained

What the percentages mean and how to compare them fairly

5 min readUpdated April 2026Sign in to save

What recycled content actually means

Recycled content is the proportion of a product that is made from recovered materials rather than virgin raw materials. In construction, it is one of the most widely referenced sustainability metrics - and one of the most inconsistently reported.

A product claiming '60% recycled content' could mean very different things depending on whether the recycled input is pre-consumer or post-consumer, whether the percentage is by weight or by volume, and whether it applies to the whole product or just one component.

This guide explains the distinctions so you can read recycled content claims accurately and compare products fairly.

Pre-consumer vs post-consumer

The most important distinction in recycled content is between pre-consumer and post-consumer material.

Pre-consumer

  • Manufacturing scrap and offcuts
  • Never reached a consumer
  • Common in metals, glass, plastics
  • Easier to collect and process

Post-consumer

  • Used by consumers, then recovered
  • Diverted from landfill
  • Higher environmental value
  • More complex to collect and sort

Note. Both types count as recycled content in most standards and rating systems. But post-consumer content is generally considered more impactful because it closes the loop on materials that would otherwise be waste.

How recycled content percentages are calculated

Recycled content percentages can be expressed by weight, by volume, or by value. Weight is the most common basis in construction, but it is worth confirming which method a supplier uses.

For single-material products (e.g. recycled aggregate, recycled steel), the calculation is straightforward: weight of recycled input divided by total weight of the finished product.

For multi-component products, it gets more complex. A composite insulation panel might have a recycled polyester core but a virgin aluminium facing. The recycled content of the whole product depends on the relative weight of each component. A supplier might quote the core's recycled content rather than the whole product's - check which figure they are using.

Watch out. On Matera, multi-component products show recycled content per component in the sourcing breakdown table. This lets you see exactly which parts are recycled rather than relying on a single blended figure.

Where recycled content appears on Matera

Recycled content data appears in several places across the platform.

TopicDetail
Material detail pagethe Sourcing & Transparency tab shows the source type (Virgin, Recycled, Bio-based, or Mixed) and the recycled content percentage. For multi-component products, each component's recycled content is shown individually in the breakdown table.
Circular economy sectionwhen a product has recycled content, a dedicated section shows the percentage with a visual progress bar, the input type (post-industrial or recycled input), and end-of-life recyclability where known.
Compare tablerecycled content percentage appears as a column, making it easy to compare across products in a project.
Sourcing tagsproducts verified as having high recycled content (50% or more in any component) automatically receive a 'High Recycled Content' tag after sourcing verification.

What to check when comparing recycled content

Recycled content claims vary in rigour. These checks help you compare products fairly.

1.Declared unit

What quantity does the data refer to? Compare products using the same unit (e.g. per m², per kg, per m³).

2.Lifecycle stages covered

Check which stages are included (A1-A3 is common). An EPD covering only A1-A3 is not comparable to one covering A1-C4.

3.GWP (Global Warming Potential)

The headline carbon number, measured in kg CO₂e. Lower is better, but only compare like-for-like units and scopes.

4.Validity date

EPDs expire - typically after 5 years. They should also be re-issued earlier if the manufacturer changes raw materials, suppliers, or processes in ways that affect the figures.

5.Programme operator and verifier

Look for recognised programme operators (e.g. EPD International, BRE, IBU) and independent third-party verification.

6.Type of EPD

Third-party verified, variant, project, or system-verified - each carries different weight. Self-declared 'environmental statements' are not EPDs.

How rating systems treat recycled content

Recycled content feeds into several sustainability rating and reporting frameworks used in UK construction.

TopicDetail
BREEAM Mat 01recycled content contributes to the responsible sourcing assessment and can improve the material's lifecycle impact score
Whole Life Carbon assessmentsrecycled content typically lowers A1 (raw material supply) emissions because processing recycled feedstock generally requires less energy than extracting and processing virgin material
Cradle to Cradlerecycled content is assessed under the Material Reutilization criterion, with credit for both recycled input and designed-for-recycling output
Module D reportingif a product is recyclable at end of life, Module D captures the avoided burden of future virgin material production. This is separate from input recycled content but related.
Browse the libraryCircular Economy in Construction