Glass recycling rate passes 70% mark

Since the 1990s, recycling rates for glass have increased by a whopping 131% in Europe.  Using recycled glass replaces virgin raw materials in glass production which helps decouple resource use from economic growth: a proven role model of the circular economy.     See national versions available on www.feve.org    Latest industry data (1) – published today ahead of the European Commission 2012 figures expected at the end of 2014 – confirm average glass recycling rates in the European Union have passed the 70% mark.This means that over 25 billion bottles and jars were collected throughout the European Union in 2012 to make new bottles. The savings in virgin resources could build two Egyptian pyramids.

Recycling means that less virgin materials are needed despite market growth. Between 1990 and 2012, EU consumption of products packed in glass increased by 39% in Europe. Glass recycling increased at the much quicker pace of 131%. As a result there is a big reduction of raw materials, CO2  and energy used to produce new bottles. Available industry data show a distinct decoupling of industry growth from resource demand and environmental impacts:  189 million tons of raw materials saved; and 138 million tons of waste have not gone to landfill thanks to recycling (2).

 

Recycling makes good sense for us– says Stefan Jaenecke, President of FEVE – that’s why already 40 years ago we helped to put in place glass collection schemes, to inform the public and to treat recycled glass bottles and jars as a precious resource for our industry. We did not call it at that time the circular economy but this is it!

 

All participants in the container glass value chain continue to contribute to these achievements. The glass industry designs and produces containers that can be effectively recycled in a closed loop system.

This is a concrete case of the decoupling effect that we want to build in a resource efficient Europe. It has been put in place many years ago and works very well – says Filip Kaczmarek, Member of the European Parliament - As policy makers we need to preserve and to support such business models that enhance economic growth, produce high value goods, generate value from waste, while reducing their environmental burden – says MEP Kaczmarek. We need therefore to work on a legislation that acknowledges and incentivises such business models”.

 

More needs to be done to improve the quality of collected glass that can be effectively recycled in a circular economy, as well as to collect the remaining 30% of used glass that currently is wasted. This industry effort supports the ambitious vision of the European Commission to build a “zero waste” and “resource efficient” society.

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ENDS

 

 

(1)        Published on www.feve.org. These data are published as industry estimates based on latest available figures at country level.

(2)        Substituting 1 tonne of recycled glass for virgin raw materials saves 1.2 tonnes of virgin raw materials. According to the FEVE LCA, 670 Kg of CO2 emissions are avoided in a cradle to cradle scope. See www.feve.org

About FEVE

 

FEVE is the association of European manufacturers of glass containers and machine-made glass tableware. The members of FEVE produce over 20 million tonnes of glass per year. The association has some 60 corporate members belonging to approximately 20 independent corporate groups.  Manufacturing plants are located across 23 European States and include global blue chip and major companies working for the world’s biggest consumer brands. See more on www.feve.org

 

About the Container Glass Industry

 

The European container glass industry provides a wide range of glass packaging products for food and beverages as well flacons for perfumery, cosmetics and pharmacy to their European and world customers. With its 160 manufacturing plants distributed all over Europe, it is an important contributor to Europe’s real economy and provides direct employment to about 50,000 people, while creating a large number of job opportunities along the total supply chain. See more on www.feve.org

 

About Friends of Glass

 

Consumers who believe glass is the best packaging option for their preferred food and drinks support glass by joining the Friends of Glass community on www.friendsofglass.com. The Friends of glass community was initiated in 2009, and it is supported by the European Container Glass industry.

 

About Glass

 

As packaging, glass containers assure the preservation, safe delivery and attractive presentation of a vast array of consumer products, supplied to European and world markets. Whether used for drinks, food, cosmetics, perfumes or pharmaceuticals, glass plays a vital role in supporting European trade and commerce.  Glass is 100 percent recyclable, virtually inert and preserves the original taste of the products it contains. Food and drinks need the protection of its container to preserve purity, because health is not only in the ingredients but also in the packaging that preserves these ingredients.

 

 

For further information contact:

Michael Delle Selve, Senior Communications Manager,

E-mail: m.delleselve@feve.org,

Tel: +32 (0)2 536 00 82; +32 475 52 24 58