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.
Performance ReportThe latest data released today by Close the Glass Loop shows that the EU average collection for recycling rate of glass packaging remained stable at 80.2% in 2022. Notably, the amount of glass collected kept up with the significant increase in the amount of glass packaging placed on the market (+4.5%), indicating a positive trend in glass collection efforts across Europe.
Glass Collection for Recycling MapThe 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.
Roadmap Closed Loop Recycling