The EU average collection of glass packaging for recycling was 80.1% in 2021, according to the latest data released by the multi-stakeholder partnership Close the Glass Loop, that aims to reach a post-consumer glass container collection target of 90% by 2030, and to ensure that this is recycled back into the container glass production loop.
According to the study on the “Performance of Packaging Glass Recycling in Europe”, 91% of glass packaging waste (12 million tonnes collected) goes back to remelt new bottles and jars: a effectively recycled is recycled back into bottles and jars.
“Separate collection is the most important step to increase glass recycling and 17 EU countries are on track to meet their 2025 recycling targets. However, the European Commission also recently identified 10 Member States at risk of not meeting their targets . This confirms the importance of Close the Glass Loop to strengthen collaboration along the glass packaging value chain to improve collection infrastructure, recycling processes and consumer communications. There is still a way to go to ensure that 90% of glass packaging is collected to be recycled by 2030 all across Europe and we must further trigger mobilisation of Close the Glass Loop actions on national level” says Adeline Farrelly, Secretary General of FEVE (Federation of European manufacturers of glass containers), on behalf of Close the Glass Loop partners.
