Packaging Unpacked: Unveiling the Truths and Myths About Glass

Category : NEWS

Experience

These days, information is everywhere: countless new reports, infinite scrolls, and eye-catching ads about new products, innovations and packaging options, wherever we look. So how can we separate the facts from the fiction to know: what packaging option is best for me, my health and the environment?

We’re here to clarify some of the most common misconceptions about glass, and packaging overall, to help you make more informed decisions next time you visit the supermarket.

Bringing clarity to circularity

How does glass recyclability compare to other materials? And are reuse schemes the way forward?

Weighing up the environmental impact

How is the industry reducing energy consumption and glass packaging’s impact?

Putting health first

What makes glass packaging a safe choice? How does it compare to other materials?

Bringing clarity to circularity

You’ve probably heard the term “circular economy” before, but do you know what it means? The circular economy is a production and consumption model that aims to extend a product’s life cycle for as long as possible – whether through recycling, reusing or even repairing – to avoid making new products from scratch. For protecting the food, drinks, medicines and beauty products that we rely on every day, in a way that doesn’t create endless waste, transitioning towards circular packaging is key.

But let’s dive deeper! What does it mean for packaging to be recyclable, and does that translate to effective recycling at the end of its life? What are the differences between recycling and reuse schemes, and which one is the best way forward for glass? Continue reading to find out some of the most common misconceptions about circularity in packaging.

These days, all packaging materials are recyclable

Just because it can be recycled doesn’t mean it is. Despite increasing claims about the growing recyclability of packaging, not all materials are collected for recycling, and even fewer are effectively recycled once they’ve been thrown away.

Unlike glass, many types of food and drink packaging have multiple layers that combine paper, plastic and synthetic materials (e.g. waterproof linings). The difficulty of separating these materials means that many collection systems do not allow them, and in reality they end up in landfill or are incinerated. When it comes to recycling effectively and safely throughout the recycling process, very few packaging materials compare to glass – that’s why other packaging is ‘downcycled’ by being recycled into fashion items, printing fibres or furniture or textile components – and in time, end up in landfill or incineration.

Plastic, for example, is a very complex material, which makes it hard to recycle directly into other bottles as the materials degrade over time. As a result, more plastic waste is incinerated than recycled in Europe [1].
While PET bottles may seem more recyclable than conventional plastic, the average PET bottle in Europe only contains 17% recycled content [2] (compared to 52% for glass [3]), and with a much lower collection rate (61% in 2020 [4]).
Other materials require additional linings, like paper-based packaging, which is almost always combined with plastic and/or chemical composites to add water or grease resistance, lowering its recyclability. This increases the likelihood of such materials ending up in landfills or incinerations, making paper-based packaging the largest source of packaging waste in the EU [5].

Recycled glass is the only packaging that can be recycled back into ‘food-grade’ containers. It maintains the same quality and inertness as virgin glass and requires no additional materials or harmful chemicals during the recycling process. What’s more, glass is the leader in recycling, with extensive collection systems that bring an impressive 80.2% EU collection rate [6], of which 92% is effectively recycled in Europe in a closed loop [7]. It’s not a question of what we CAN recycle, but what IS recycled, in a way that’s effective, safe for our health and limits environmental impact.

References :

European Court of Auditors, 2020.
Zero Waste Europe, 2022.
FEVE LCA data, 2020.
Eunomia, 2023.
Eurostat, 2023.
Close The Glass Loop, 2024.
Close The Glass Loop, Packaging Glass Recycling in Europe Performance Report 2023, 2023. [Accessed 20/06/2024]

Reusing or returning glass containers is always a better option than recycling them.

From doorstep milk deliveries delivered fresh from the farmer to Germany’s returnable beer bottles, reusable glass options have been a reality for decades, thanks to their durability and safety. But, although you may think that reusing or returning glass bottles or jars is the best option, that’s not always the case. It all comes down to context.

Reuse schemes can be efficient within short or localised supply chains, like farmers’ markets or doorstep milk deliveries. Yet, for product categories that cover long transport distances, the panorama changes. Studies have found that when distribution chains exceed 400km [1], a reusable glass bottle would need to be reused at least four times in order to match the environmental impact of single-use bottles. This number rises to over 30 cycles for distances surpassing 800km or more [2].

Glass recycling systems are already widespread in Europe and adopted by citizens, supported by municipal initiatives and European programmes.

Unlike other materials, glass is an inert contact material. It’s a single-layer material, and it doesn’t absorb or release harmful chemicals into products, making it a safer option for people’s health. It retains these qualities even when recycled again and again.

Other alternatives, like aluminium, might need extra polymer coatings to prevent interaction with food, which could affect taste and cause unwanted chemicals to migrate into the food. For example, some canned wines exhibit “reducing” properties after three to six months in the can. Plastic packaging containers degrade during the recycling process and can break down into microplastics that can leach into our food and drinks, affecting their taste and potentially leading to harmful health effects. But when it comes to glass, you can be sure that the packaging stands for quality – inside and out.

References :

e.g. InSites, 2022, InSites Consulting/FEVE, 2017 survey on consumer perceptions of glass.
Food Packaging Forum, Factsheet on Bioplastics, 2022. (foodpackagingforum.org)