PRESS RELEASEGLASS PACKAGING RECYCLING RATE STABLE AT 74%Brussels, 7 February 2019
Latest industry data on glass recycling confirms that over 12 million tons of glass
bottles and jars are collected and recycled in Europe, with an average glass recycling
rate in the EU28 of 74% (1). Glass remains the best performing food grade closed loop
in the world. The latest industry data have a two-year time lag dating from 2016.
This figure should be set to rise. With the Circular Economy now at the forefront of
the political agenda, EU Member States have committed to ambitious targets onmunicipal waste reduction and glass packaging recycling. This signals a renewed
investment in separate collection for glass packaging in the coming years, which will
engage consumers, municipalities, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes,
recyclers and manufacturers in a collaborative effort to collect, sort and treat the glassthat is currently leaking from the system.
“As an industry we commit to actually recycle all collected glass of sufficient quality inthe closed loop. An estimated 90% of what is collected goes into creating new bottles
from old ones, offering brands and consumers a food grade quality recycled material.
Today, recycled glass is our most important raw material, which brings us major
environmental benefits, and energy savings”, commented Adeline Farrelly, FEVE
Secretary General.
Our recent study on glass packaging recycling (2) demonstrates that countries such as
Austria and Sweden have gone beyond 90% collection for recycling rates by installingbottle bank systems and investing in consumer awareness. Tailored solutions will need
to be found locally, but separating glass from the other materials is the best
investment for public authorities to meet the new glass recycling targets. Our recent
consumer research suggests that particularly for millennials, environmental credentials
drive their product choice, and that the take-back culture for glass packaging is verystrong where there is bottle bank infrastructure in place (3).
“Consumers have a strong connection with glass packaging, which is for them morethan just a packaging”, she continued. “Over ten years ago, the industry decided toinvest in consumer communications (www.friendsofglass.com) to raise awarenessabout the importance of glass recycling and the other key assets of glass packaging.

1|PageWe want to help bridge the collection gap, but clearly cannot do so on our own. Efforts
across the value chain are needed.”
The average 74% EU glass collection for recycling rate masks a variety of situations
between countries. If we look at performance rates, on the one side, we find countries
in the ‘Over 90%’ top league: Belgium, Finland, Austria, Sweden and Slovenia whereseparate collection schemes for glass perform very well and provide a high quality
secondary raw material for the industry. On the opposite side we find countries in the’Under 40%’ league: Greece, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Malta, Romania where thecollection culture and, consequently the glass collection schemes have important
potential for growth. Looking at overall volumes of glass collected, the picture inlarger countries such as France, Italy, the UK, Poland or Spain is different. In
conclusion, each country is different and will need its own focused and tailored
strategy to ensure top class glass recycling. In conclusion, each country is different andwill need its own focused and tailored strategy to ensure top class glass recycling.
(1) - See FEVE Recycling Statistics published on the FEVE website www.feve.org(2) – See https://feve.org/study-on-impact-assessment-of-deposit-return-schemes(3) – See http://content.presspage.com/uploads/1081/friendsofglass-reportonpackaging-2017.pdf?10000(4) – See Friends of Glass Platform on www.friendsofglass.com_________

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About Glass
Made of natural minerals abundant in nature - sand, soda-ash, recycled glass andlimestone - glass is a 100% recyclable material, manufactured in a one step process
under one roof. Some ninety per cent of collected glass bottles and jars are used
repeatedly to produce new food grade glass packaging in the closed loop system. Eachtime a bottle or jar is recycled into new containers, energy and raw materials are also
saved and less CO2 is emitted. By recycling glass, over 12 million tons of raw materials
are saved each year and over 7 million tons of CO2 are avoided - equal to taking 4
million cars off the road. We save 2.5% energy for each 10% of glass recycled in thefurnace.
About FEVE
FEVE is the Federation of European manufacturers of glass containers. Its members
produce over 20 million tons 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 moreon 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 as flacons for perfumery, cosmetics andpharmacy 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 maintains 125.000 direct and indirect jobs along the total supply chain. See moreon www.feve.org
For further information contact:
Michael Delle Selve, Senior Communications Manager,
E-mail: m.delleselve@feve.org, Tel: +32 (0)2 536 00 82
Follow FEVE now on Twitter! @FeveEU____________

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