Close the Glass Loop Movement

The European glass packaging industry sets in motion “Close the Glass Loop” - a major stewardship programme to boost glass “collection for recycling” rates to 90% by 2030 in the EU. The move comes as a proactive response to new EU rules to increase net recycling targets for glass packaging to 75% by 2030.

Today, over 76% of glass packaging placed on the European market is collected for “bottle to bottle” recycling, already putting the circularity of glass in a league of its own.

Industry CEOs have unanimously agreed to set up the “Close the Glass Loop” programme with the common ambition to achieve an EU-wide 90% collection for recycling target for glass packaging by 2030.  The programme will be shaped in the next months with value chain partners with whom we are now discussing on how to collaborate. The official platform launch is planned in June 2020.

The production of glass packaging for food, beverages as well as in the pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics sector with an endlessly recyclable, reusable and permanent material translates in less consumption of natural resources, less waste and less use of energy in line with the Sustainable Consumption and Production Goal. At the same time, glass recycling directly allows the industry to dramatically reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions, in line with the Climate Action Goal.