Environment
Glass, Made to Last
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Glass can be recycled again and again without losing its intrinsic qualities.
- It can also be reused, both at home and through organised reuse systems.
- Its inert nature and transparency help protect products and reduce certain forms of waste.
- Using recycled glass saves raw materials, energy and CO₂ emissions.
A material designed to last
Building more sustainable habits also means paying attention to the packaging we choose every day. But when recyclability, reuse, resource consumption and manufacturing impacts all come into play, it is not always easy to navigate the options.
Glass has several characteristics that make it part of the solution. It can return to the production cycle, be reused, and protect what it contains over time. And when recycled, it also helps reduce the need for virgin raw materials.
Back again. And again.
Glass can be recycled repeatedly without losing its intrinsic qualities. This is one of the conclusions of the report published by the Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro on 27 June 2016, which examines its classification as a “permanent material”.
In 2021, the average collection rate for glass packaging intended for recycling in the EU reached 80.1%, according to Close the Glass Loop data published by FEVE in June 2023.
See clearly, protect better
Transparency in everyday life
Seeing what’s left in a jar without opening it might seem like a small thing. Yet this transparency makes storage easier and helps identify which foods should be consumed first.
Glass can make it easier to use what you already have and avoid forgetting products at the back of a cupboard or fridge.
Colour protects too
Not all glass allows light to pass through in the same way. The colour of a bottle influences which wavelengths can penetrate its surface.
This is why amber, green and blue glass are often used for light-sensitive products such as beer, certain oils and some pharmaceutical products.
Recycling makes a difference
Reintroducing recycled glass, known as cullet, into the manufacturing process replaces part of the virgin raw materials used to produce glass, including sand, limestone and soda ash.
According to FEVE’s 2012 Life Cycle Assessment, every tonne of recycled glass used in production saves 1.2 tonnes of virgin raw materials.
A story that begins again
Glass alone does not solve every challenge related to packaging. But its properties allow it to play a role in a more circular system: reuse it whenever possible, collect it, recycle it, and turn it into new packaging.
And everyone can play a part in that loop. Choosing packaging that suits your needs, giving it a second life when it makes sense, and following local sorting and recycling guidelines are all ways to help the story continue.
Because with glass, an ending can also be a new beginning.
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