Achieving zero emissions in the glass manufacturing sector: methods and plans
In the realm of packaging materials, glass stands out as an inherently safe and inert option, a fact that can empower consumers to make informed choices. The glass sector, recognising the importance of sustainability, is advocating for a policy focus on strengthening recycling infrastructure, ensuring access to affordable renewable energy, and facilitating funding for industrial-scale innovation.
This shift towards sustainability is being facilitated by regulatory frameworks such as the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive and the Waste Framework Directive. These directives reinforce key principles like recyclability, reuse, and recycled content, moving the glass industry towards decarbonization and circularity.
The PPWR (Products Liability Directive) is particularly significant for the glass sector, as it emphasises reuse and recycling. Europe's policymakers are increasingly emphasising the importance of reuse and refill as part of a circular economy.
The European glass industry has been actively contributing to the EU's net-zero carbon emissions goal. By engaging in efforts aligned with the EU Green Deal, the industry aims for climate neutrality by 2050 and a 55% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to 1990 levels. Key strategies include enhancing energy efficiency, promoting circular economy principles, and adapting technologies to reduce emissions.
This initiative spans the entire value chain, encompassing glass producers, brands, consumers, extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, and municipalities across 13 countries. One of the key initiatives is 'Close the Glass Loop', a multi-stakeholder initiative aiming to bring post-consumer recycled cullet back into production cycles in Europe.
In sectors like food or personal care, perfectly transparent glass made from virgin raw materials is often perceived as an indicator of quality or safety. However, dark glass containers can yield higher percentages of recycled content as they can incorporate cullet of various colours without requiring precise sorting.
Regulatory frameworks play a crucial role in this transition. They must provide long-term certainty to avoid delaying investment, hindering progress, and undermining the competitiveness of European value chains. For instance, an over-reliance on weight as a sustainability metric can ignore other equally important factors such as recyclability or food safety.
Improving the glass recycling stream involves focusing on better methods of collecting glass from consumers to increase the volume and quality of collected glass. Deposit return schemes (DRS) are not the right solution for glass, as nearly 8 out of 10 glass bottles are already collected for recycling in Europe, mainly through extended producer responsibility (EPR) systems.
In June 2024, Close the Glass Loop published a roadmap to optimize closed loop recycling of glass packaging. The roadmap outlines strategies to increase the use of recycled glass, improve sorting and quality, and promote the advantages of glass as a sustainable packaging option.
As we move towards a more sustainable future, increasing consumer awareness about the benefits of glass as a material that can be infinitely recycled without losing quality is crucial for building a future-proof closed loop system. The glass industry, along with key players, is committed to this transition, making glass a key player in Europe's journey towards a circular economy.
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