In 2021, the average collection of glass packaging intended for recycling was 80,1% in the European Union. This is confirmed by the latest data collected by Close the Glass Loop, the industrial platform that aims to increase the quality and quantity of recycled glass available, promoting sustainable growth opportunities in the context of a circular economy.
Close the Glass Loop intends to achieve a 90% post-consumer glass container collection target by 2030, ensuring that this is put back into the production cycle of the glass for packaging.
Glass recycling in the EU: pass and fail
As argued by Adeline Farrelly (General Secretary of FEVE), to increase glass recycling it is necessary to invest in collection. In the EU, 17 countries are on track to meet their 2025 recycling targets. European Commission has identified as many as 10 member states that are at risk of not living up to their recycling commitments: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal and Romania.
The Close the Glass Loop Action Plans
This data requires the strengthening partnerships along the glass packaging value chain. Close the Glass Loop deploys its expertise to improve and strengthen collection infrastructure, recycling processes and the communication with consumers; three strategic actions in order to promote and favor a profound sustainable transition on national territories.
Indeed, the provision of such action programs is crucial to triggering change. In this sense, the active involvement and enthusiastic participation of companies, government bodies, universities, associations, organizations and research centers cannot be disregarded.
Vidro+: the Lusitanian plan
Of the 10 nations listed, the Portugal it is the only one to have taken up the challenge of recycling, launching the national action programme Vidro+. As stated by Tiago Moreira da Silva (Coordinator of Vidro+), “with a collection rate for recycling of 54,4% in 2021, Portugal is below the EU average, but it is also one of the Member States with the highest potential for collection and recycling of glass packaging”.
Last but not least, Portugal is the European country with the highest per capita glass production, almost four times higher than its consumption needs. This makes the development of glass packaging collection essential to meet the need for recycled glass.
Source: closetheglassloop.eu
