Glass is 100% and infinitely recyclable in a closed bottle-to-bottle loop, without losing its intrinsic properties. Closed loop recycling has a key role to play in a well-functioning Circular Economy that keeps resources productive in the economy for as long as possible, reducing the use of virgin raw materials and emissions, and saving energy. It is a guarantee that the packaging placed on the market has the highest possible recycled content. The closed loop recycling of glass packaging is a reality in a highly integrated system, from post-consumer waste to high-quality products for new bottles and jars. Close the Glass Loop aims to track the performance of packaging glass recycling year on year.
Close the Glass Loop has unveiled the most comprehensive report to date on the Performance of Packaging Glass Recycling in Europe.
Following a survey of more than 80 Glass Cullet Recycling Facilities, active in 20 different countries and processing more than 60% of all available glass packaging collected for recycling in 2022, the report provides an in-depth overview of the efficiency of the glass recycling process. It confirms that the glass collection & recycling value chain is delivering major results for the circular economy: 93% of all materials entering Glass Cullet Recycling Facilities were effectively recycled in 2022 and 85% were sent for re-melt in glass packaging manufacturing to produce new bottles and jars. The report also highlights the huge reliance on municipal waste collection systems, with 87% of all materials entering Glass Cullet Recycling Facilities originating from post-consumer glass in municipal waste. In addition, it indicates that imported materials represent only 11% of the total inputs, demonstrating the local dimension of glass recycling.The latest data released today by Close the Glass Loop shows that the EU average collection for recycling rate of glass packaging continued to progress, reaching 80,8% in 2023. Collection volumes remained exceptionally high with more than 12 million tonnes of glass packaging collected for recycling. The collection rate may even be higher, but tracking has become increasingly difficult as Member States are required to report on effective recycling, and no longer on collection for recycling.
This performance reflects well-established practices in favour of glass packaging separate collection for households and hospitality businesses alike, and a strong network of operators ensuring collected glass is effectively recycled and brought back to one of the 162 glass packaging manufacturing plants in Europe.Close the Glass Loop released updated 2023 analysis on the additional effort required by each EU inhabitant to reach the 90% glass collection for recycling target. We recently published the updated glass collection for recycling map, showing each country’s overall performance. However, this new kg-per-capita map offers a more detailed and human-centred perspective: it reveals how much more glass packaging, on average, every individual needs to collect in order for their country to hit the 90% target. Rather than focusing on national percentages alone, this map highlights the practical reality for people on the ground and allows for a fair comparison between countries of very different sizes and populations.
Eurostat recently updated its database with the latest glass packaging recycling figures for 2022, and we can reveal that the EU average has reached 75.6%!
The goal of this Roadmap is to set a pathway for Close the Glass Loop to further support the continued optimisation of the closed loop glass recycling process. In the context of closed-loop glass recycling, sorting glass coming from collection to get furnace-ready cullet as well as remelting furnace-ready cullet into new glass containers are both part of the virtuous recycling chain of glass.
