4 November 2025

Eurostat 2023 Figures Reveal 74.9% EU Glass Recycling Rate

The newly released Eurostat 2023 data shows that the EU’s average glass packaging recycling rate stands at 74.9%. ♻️

 

This year’s map paints a strong picture of commitment: most EU Member States are shaded in green, showing that Europe is steadily moving towards its long-term glass packaging circularity goals.

 

When we look closer at the numbers, the progress and disparities become clearer:
🔹 3 countries are still below the 55% threshold, meaning they face a steep climb to reach large-scale recycling.
🔹 7 more are below the 70% level, the 2025 recycling target,
🔹 and 1 more country is approaching but not yet meeting the 75% 2030 target.
🔹 Encouragingly, 13 countries have already surpassed the 75% goal, showing that large-scale, well-organized collection for recycling systems make a measurable difference.

 

Although there’s a small downward adjustment compared to last year, the circular success story continues: more than 11 million tonnes of glass packaging across Europe was effectively recycled, of which our estimates suggest that 92% was remelted back into new bottles and jars for a new product cycle. Every tonne represents avoided waste, reduced emissions and preserved raw materials.

 

At Close the Glass Loop, we’ll keep working alongside whole glass packaging value chain to make glass collection and recycling even more effective.