Welcome to the Plastic IQ Solutions Database,
a guide to technologies, strategies, and best practices for reducing plastic waste
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Glass
Glass can be used in a wide range of packaging applications. Brands and packagers considering single-use glass as a substitute for plastics packaging should explore and consider a number of factors in their decision-making process.
The following are used for general information and illustrative purposes and do not reflect a preference of or an endorsement by The Recycling Partnership or our affiliates or vendors.
- Packaging weight: Glass packaging is likely to be a heavier per product application versus single-use plastic bottles, which should be taken into account when assessing cost and environmental performance impacts (1).
- Technical and practical recyclability: Glass can technically be recycled endlessly without degradation of its core properties. However, some material loss occurs during collection and processing, and issues of color and contamination affect technical and practical recyclability (see Key Benefits below).
- Recycled content: Glass packaging can technically achieve high recycled content. The glass industry reports an average of 33% recycled content (2). Levels of recycled content may depend on bottle color since each color type can tolerate different levels of color contamination.
- Reusability: Glass packaging may be successful in a localized reuse system, which could deliver better environmental benefits compared to single-use plastic packaging.
- Geography: Glass recycling varies across the U.S. Consider where products packaged in glass will be distributed in relation to collection programs, glass recycling facilities, and suitable end markets. The Glass Recycling Coalition developed resources to better understand the opportunities for glass recycling.
Glass packaging can potentially be more costly than plastic packaging due in part to weight issues. Regional cost differences may also apply. The Method Appendix outlines the assumptions used for glass in Plastic IQ. Brands and packagers should consult packaging suppliers to explore specific actual costs for their application. [Link]
The glass recycling process within the current energy system only has a limited improvement in GHG emissions relative to virgin glass production (relative to plastic or metal recycling) (3). The majority of energy and GHG impacts occur in the glass manufacturing process, which requires high heat and fuel use. In addition, the heavier weight of glass for delivery of the same amount of product to consumers can result in a higher environmental footprint and increased transportation impacts compared to other packaging types. Taking into account a number of studies comparing single-use virgin plastic packaging with single-use virgin glass, the GHG emissions of glass packaging are approximately three times higher, excluding transportation effects (Method appendix). [Link]
- High recycling potential: Glass can be recycled technically endlessly without degradation of its core properties. In practice, glass recycling is affected by a range of factors, including the need for extensive quality processing, material loss during collection and processing, relatively low market value, and transportation challenges due to weight. In addition to bottle-to-bottle uses, recycled glass is also used to manufacture fiberglass insulation and other building products and as an aggregate material (4). Different colors of glass may experience more positive or negative market situations depending on regions of the U.S. and end uses.
High recycled content potential: Glass can achieve high levels of recycled content. Critical to that content is available supply, color separation, and the need for high levels of purity in recycled cullet.
Strong reusability potential: Using glass for deposit-return schemes linked to refill systems (in which the bottle remains intact and is not broken and remelted for recycling) have proven to be effective and have reached scale in many countries, such as drink-refill systems in Brazil and Germany [link to reuse]. For reuse schemes, glass bottles often have to be made heavier and more durable than for single-use applications.
- Consider the market: Glass is widely but not universally collected in residential recycling programs in the U.S. Its weight limits viable transportation distances both from an economic and environmental perspective. It also has lower recycling market value than most other materials, and bottle uses compete with other uses. Some glass packaging falls under deposit systems in 10 states, with specific packaging coverage varying among the states. Glass uses principally domestic markets. U.S. EPA reports a national recycling rate for glass packaging at 31.3% as of 2018 (5).
Consider reuse: Glass is durable and can be sterilized. To reduce life cycle impacts and displace primary material production, reuse of glass may be a suitable option in some situations. While reusable glass typically requires a thicker design, glass can be washed and refilled up to 25 times before needing to be recycled, which also eliminates the need to use raw materials for glass production. Establishing reuse programs requires a strong network of glass collection, sterilization, and reverse logistics, prioritizing local networks to reduce transportation impacts. Once glass packaging can no longer be reused, the material should be collected and recycled. Conscious Container is one organization actively piloting glass reuse programs in the U.S..
- Policy: Deposit-return schemes help incentivize higher recycling rates for glass and result in cleaner material streams, which in turn leads to higher value glass recycling, in particular for bottle-grade applications. Nearly half of the glass collected for bottle-grade recycling comes from the 10 states that have implemented bottle-deposit legislation (6).
Invest in recovery and end markets through high recycled content: Due to the predominantly commingled-stream nature of the U.S. recycling system, materials tend to be interdependent. For that reason, an effective recovery system for all materials is an essential ingredient for the success of all packaging materials. Glass faces challenges from a recycling system cost and quality perspective, which has led some communities to eliminate glass from curbside collection. Strong commitment to high recycled content helps strengthen the place of glass in collection and processing. Advocacy and investment for keeping or including glass in collection programs is critical for the long-term success of glass packaging.
Engage with other stakeholders: Glass recycling is addressed by a variety of organizations in the U.S., including the Glass Packaging Institute, the Glass Recycling Coalition, the Glass Recycling Foundation, and the Glass Manufacturing Institute Council. These organizations represent both technical resources and opportunities to participate in joint efforts to improve glass recycling.
References and further reading
(1) Sandin G., Miliuntenko S., “Single-use plastic bottles and their alternatives: Recommendations from Life Cycle Assessments,” (2020), United Nations Environment Programme. (Link)
(2) Glass Recycling Coalition. (Link)
(3) “Life-Cycle Inventory Data Sets for Material Production of Aluminum, Glass, Paper, Plastic and Steel in North America. Report prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” (2003), RTI International. (Link)
(4) Bottled Up: Container Recycling Rates & Trends (2013), Container Recycling Institute. (Link)
(5) “Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures Report,” (2018), US Environmental Protection Agency. (Link)
