The latest data released today by Close the Glass Loop shows that the EU average collection for recycling rate of glass packaging continued to progress, reaching 80,8% in 2023.
Collection volumes remained exceptionally high with more than 12 million tonnes of glass packaging collected for recycling. The collection rate may even be higher, but tracking has become increasingly difficult as Member States are required to report on effective recycling, and no longer on collection for recycling.
This performance reflects well-established practices in favour of glass packaging separate collection for households and hospitality businesses alike, and a strong network of operators ensuring collected glass is effectively recycled and brought back to one of the 162 glass packaging manufacturing plants in Europe.
While the progress is encouraging, further efforts and investments are needed to bring the necessary step change towards achieving the target of 90% glass collection for recycling by 2030. This was the key message from European and national partners of Close the Glass Loop during today’s online press conference.
“Across the value chain there is a strong commitment to keep improving cost-effective separate collection system for glass packaging, both for households and hospitality businesses. Once glass packaging is collected, we estimate that 85% is effectively recycled in a closed loop. This is what gives glass packaging a unique role in Europe’s circular economy”, stated Carlo Pirrone, Secretary General of FEVE – European Container Glass Federation.
“Today’s progress shows that we are moving in the right direction, but there is still untapped potential to collect more glass and supply the glass manufacturing industry. Achieving recycling targets is a minimum, but every additional tonne collected is a valuable resource that helps us close the loop”, added Olivier Deweerdt, Secretary General of FERVER – European Glass Recyclers’ Federation.
“More than 90% of spirits in Europe are sold in glass bottles. We are encouraged by the growth in collection, and spirits producers will continue to support all efforts that can improve collection and recycling to increase the uptake of recycled content in our packaging”, commented Sarah Melina Siebel, Director for Internal Market & Sustainability at spiritsEUROPE.
“In Austria, we have a long-standing commitment to glass collection and recycling, with over 8 million tonnes of glass packaging collected for recycling since 1977. Through this long history of citizen communications and optimising glass collection logistics, on average two-thirds of glass packaging manufactured in Austria is recycled glass”, said Monika Piber, Public Relations Manager at Austria Glas Recycling.
On a national level, there are positive signals from Portugal and Greece, who increased by 12,6% and 11,1% respectively the total amounts collected compared to 2022, outpacing the volumes placed on the market. Spain also recorded a 7% increase in total collected volumes from 2022, jumping from a 69,9% to a 75,9% glass collection for recycling rate. Finally, Italy, which represents close to 18% of the total market for glass packaging in the EU, surpassed the 90% glass collection for recycling target for the first time.
The full breakdown of the data on national level and evolution since 2020 is available on the Close the Glass Loop website.