Brussels - In 2008, an estimated 25.5 billion glass bottles and jars were collected and reached an average collection recycling rate of 65 percent for the EU27 countries and nearly 11.5 million tonnes of glass packaging collected all over Europe (including Norway, Switzerland and Turkey). “This data confirms the clear positive trend over the last year when, thanks to the collaboration of citizens, a number of EU countries have reached the ambitious 60 percent collection target fixed by the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive,” says Dominique Tombeur, President of the European Container Glas Federation (FEVE).

In countries like Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland and Spain efforts were made to further increase the already good results, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia saw a steady improvement in the Eastern Region where collection and recycling systems can still be enhanced. 2008, Germany reached a glass collection rate of 82 percent.

In Belgium and Sweden close to 100 percent of glass bottles and jars put on the market were collected, making the vision of a zero waste packaging material an ambitious objective which, to be realized, has to rely on the strong cooperation of all stakeholders starting from the citizens, the policy makers and the industry.

At EU level, taking the EU15 countries as a reference, national consumption increased by 8 percent over the last ten years while glass packaging waste destined to other uses and to landfill decreased by 26 percent, showing a clear decoupling between consumption and recycling.

“The results reached in glass collection for recycling prove that glass packaging is a fully sustainable resource” says Dominique Tombeur. Unlike other materials a very high rate of collected glass is actually recycled in a new production cycle with an extremely positive impact on depletion of raw material savings, energy savings and emissions saving.”

Consumers know about the environmental benefits of glass. When asked, 86 percent of consumers say they recycle their glass bottles and jars. If given the choice, a big majority of consumers (about 74 percent) state they would prefer glass packed products in almost all food and beverage categories. Made from some of the most abundant raw materials in nature – sand, soda ash and limestone – consumers also appreciate glass for its ability to preserve original taste and its impermeability, making it one of the safest and healthiest ways to store products with the least harmful impact on the
environment.

More information and figures on the single national consumptions, metric tons collected and recycling rates can be found under feve.org.

Quelle: European Container Glas Federation (FEVE)

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