Close the Glass Loop, the European action platform for glass packaging collection & recycling, has officially launched a new awareness-raising campaign targeting the hospitality sector. The aim is to improve the quality and quantity of glass packaging collected for recycling in commercial establishments such as restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and other venues, by highlighting the importance of separating glass packaging from other materials, with a focus on the risk of mixing glass and ceramics. At the heart of the campaign is a short, engaging video clip entitled “The Sound of Glass” to bring the message that glass and ceramics can share the same table but do not belong in the same bin.
“Through this campaign, we will work closely with our network of partners at national level to reach more than 2 million HORECA businesses across the EU and the UK. Each year, these operators consume and discard approximately three million tonnes of single-use glass beverage packaging”, said Carlo Pirrone, Secretary General of FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation. “Improving the quality of collected glass remains a key priority for the glass packaging industry, as it is essential to ensure a reliable supply of secondary raw materials for bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
Glass packaging is one of the most widely used consumer packaging materials in Europe, particularly for beverages and food. While mostly present in households, the hospitality sector is estimated to represent close to 20% of Europe’s glass recycling potential, making the sector a key contributor of collected glass sent for recycling. In some countries and touristic destinations, the hospitality sector can have an even bigger impact.
Once consumed, one-way glass packaging is collected and sent to glass cullet recycling facilities, where it is processed into cullet for remelting. However, if ceramics from dishes or tableware end up with the glass, this can cause damage to glass furnaces and compromise the quality of the new glass containers being produced.
“Even small amounts of ceramics can disrupt the recycling process”, added Rene Schroeder, Secretary General of FERVER – the European Glass Recyclers’ Federation. “Separating glass from unwanted waste fractions, such as ceramics, at source is the most effective way of ensuring closed loop recycling of glass packaging. This will translate into a high-quality cullet in the furnace. We are convinced such a campaign will help explain why proper separation at source in high-volume environments like HORECA really matters for glass recyclers.”
The campaign has been developed in close cooperation with the hospitality sector, represented by HOTREC - the Association of Hotels, Restaurants & Cafés in Europe by recognising its central role in the circular economy for glass packaging.
“High-quality glass recycling depends on effective separation at source and collection. Hospitality businesses play a decisive role in making this happen. With staff training and initiatives such as Close the Glass Loop, we can strengthen hospitality’s contribution to a competitive and circular European economy”, declared Marie Audren, Director General of HOTREC.
The video will be made available to national organisations to support tailored communication campaigns at country level. With this initiative, Close the Glass Loop aims to support national partners in reaching the hospitality sector more effectively and to reinforce the message that keeping glass free from ceramics is key to closing the glass loop.
See more at www.closetheglassloop.eu