What does that strange Triman logo on the Albert Heijn website mean?
‘Huh?’ FavorFlav’s Sharon texted in surprise. ‘What is that strange triathlete logo doing on the Albert Heijn website?’ She had just tasted the burrata with pesto from Zanetti that she had picked up at Albert Heijn. The ‘triathlete’ logo is displayed next to the product. ‘Triman’ appears beside it. ‘Could this be a triathlete? As in: you can get a good workout with this product?’ A reason to take a closer look at this new logo.
As it turns out, the Triman logo has absolutely nothing to do with triathletes or sports. Products bearing it do not necessarily contain extra protein, nor are they specially made for athletes. What is it actually related to? Something completely different: the recyclability of the packaging.
This is what the Triman logo means
The Triman logo is part of French legislation. France’s environmental law, in Article L541-9-3, states that products must carry a label indicating the correct disposal methods. The Triman logo is the result of that requirement. It depicts a person (‘the environmentally conscious citizen’) with three arrows on the right. Sharon thought it had something to do with hammer throwing (the Olympic Games were in full swing, after all), but no.
Those three arrows mean that citizens separate their waste in different ways. One arrow stands for ‘non-recyclable’, another for ‘recyclable’ and the last for ‘glass’. The long arrow on the other side stands for recycling. Sometimes there is also an ‘info tri’ label. This provides information about the different packaging elements that can be separated and the correct collection bin. Has anyone ever heard of this?
Recyclable packaging
In any case, the logo indicates that the packaging you are holding is recyclable. This means, for example, that you should not throw it in a regular rubbish bin, but put it in a special recycling or paper bin. It applies to 1) products sold in France (including packaging and printed paper); 2) household products (so not products used professionally); and 3) recyclable household packaging (which can be separated into categories such as yellow waste bins, paper or glass). The latter means that products that cannot be recycled or are not eligible for waste separation may not carry a Triman logo.
Again: has anyone ever heard of this?
Mandatory for products registered in France
No? Then let’s carry on. Do you import products into France? In that case, you are required to comply with this legislation. Even if you are a European online retailer delivering products to France, you must meet these labelling requirements. If necessary, you can stick a logo label onto the packaging if you did not make the product and packaging yourself. Those who disregard the rules can get into trouble. Think of a hefty fine.
One product has it, another does not
So, we can also find the Triman logo on some products sold at Albert Heijn. In this case, we spotted it on the burrata with pesto from the Zanetti brand. What is striking, however, is that the burrata with truffle from Zanetti, which comes in the same type of packaging, does not have a Triman logo. Why is there a difference, and where exactly does that difference lie? When I call Albert Heijn, the employee tells me that the logo is related to the ‘shelf life of the product’. According to them, it therefore concerns the product itself and the period during which the product remains effective and usable.
The employee on the phone could not tell me anything more about it—not even when I brought up the recyclability of the packaging myself. She forwarded my question to a department that should know more about it. Unfortunately, five weeks later I still have not received a response.
Why, according to Albert Heijn, there is a difference between one Zanetti package and the other remains unclear. Is there secretly a difference in packaging material after all? Does Zanetti sell one product in France but not the other? In any case, we know that the Triman logo is mandatory on (partly) recyclable packaging sold in France. And that it therefore has nothing to do with the shelf life of the product. Or triathletes.
Albert Heijn does respond after all
Several weeks later, after this article was published, Albert Heijn responded:
First of all, apologies for the late response to your question. Unfortunately, it took a long time to receive feedback from the supplier. They provided the following explanation. It is not displayed on all Zanetti products because these are not sold in every country. The burrata Pesto is sold in France, which is why it appears on that product.
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Sources: staxxer.com, amanvida.eu, circular-pro.com, Cosh!; header image: Albert Heijn website
