For manufacturers seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprint, glass packaging offers a viable and sustainable alternative to plastics and other less environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Not only is the material recyclable, which leads to waste reduction, but its quality also remains strong no matter how many times it is reused. Glass resists deterioration or corrosion, and the shelf-life of its packaging outlasts any other material. The contents of a glass container will remain fresh and pure, regardless of whether the material is new or recycled.
Effective for protecting food and beverages from bacteria, such as a jar for condiments or a bottle of soda, glass withstands high-pressure sealing. It can even be engineered to absorb light in the ultraviolet range, further shielding its contents from damage and securing optimum product taste. However, the service life of glass is to a large extent determined by the material’s quality and correct handling while washing.
Environmental Benefits of Glass Recycling
Recycled glass requires a lower melting temperature than the raw materials used to produce glass from scratch, meaning production that utilizes recycled glass can extend the lifetime of the furnace and save large amounts of energy. The recycling process does not generate any harmful byproducts either, making it extremely efficient.
Because recycled glass also lowers the demand for raw materials, its use supports natural resource conservation — 1 ton for every ton of glass recycled — and decreased manufacturing costs. On top of those savings, glass recycling has a critical impact on the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions: for each metric ton of material recycled, manufacturers avoid producing approximately 315 kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
How Recycling Boosts Sustainable Production in the Packaging Industry
Recycling is a crucial component of furthering sustainable production. For example, a shift from plastic bottles, which contribute significantly to landfill waste and ocean pollution, to recyclable glass bottles, a more eco-conscious option, can substantially increase sustainability efforts by companies manufacturing liquid products.
Beyond just a shift to glass packaging, using any recycled materials instead of fresh supplies greatly reduces waste and increases sustainability efforts. Companies should also consider minimizing the amount of packaging material to the lowest amount possible that still maintains product safety.
Overall, sustainable packaging trends involve an emphasis on several major concepts: lightweight, easier-to-produce materials, widespread recycling programs, increased logistics and manufacturing efficiency, and raw materials obtained from renewable sources.
Glass Recycling Facts
Among its many benefits, the use of recycled glass in product packaging:
- Reduces carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 5% for every 10% of recycled glass used for packaging.
- Lowers energy costs by approximately 2-3% for every 10% of recycled glass used in packaging. (Recycling just a single glass jar produces an energy savings equivalent to the energy required to power a computer for an hour!)
- Saves approximately 1.2 kg of fresh raw materials for every 1 kg of recycled glass used in production.
- Contributes to reduction in air pollution by approximately 20%.
- Supports reduction in water pollution by approximately 40%.
Packaging for a Healthier Environment
Glass recycling can lead to a more sustainable, less wasteful packaging industry and a healthier environment. The statistics regarding its effects illustrate its staggering positive impact — but as of 2015, only 33.2% of glass packaging in the United States was recycled, according to the Department of Conservation.
Every industry is responsible for implementing more sustainable manufacturing techniques and increasing the availability of recycling and waste reclamation programs — the welfare of the environment and the world’s inhabitants, both present and future, depends on it.
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