New study shows strong recycling performance of opaque glass packaging across Europe
The key takeaway is encouraging
The capability of Europe’s glass-recycling facilities, known as Cullet Treatment Plants (CTPs), are far more capable than many people assume and go well beyond the limits set in some national packaging laws.
A robust scientific study
The study looked at the threshold at which opaque glass fragments can still be correctly recognised as glass by the optical sorting systems used in used in CTPs. The results shows that the machines can reliably recognise and sort opaque glass fragments as long as a small amount of light (> 2.5%) still passes through them. In practice, this means that bottles with even very low transparency can be successfully recycled.
To ensure the results were reliable, SSV along with support from members of FERVER (European Federation of Glass Recyclers), carried out large-scale industrial trials at nine glass-sorting plants in different European countries and performed extensive laboratory tests.
Nearly three tonnes of standardised glass fragments from various opaque bottles were tested under everyday operating conditions. This means that the research offers clear, data-driven insight into the state-of-the-art performance of Europe’s glass-recycling infrastructure.
Influencing future policy
Because of its robust scientific and industrial basis, the findings of this study are being taken into consideration in the development of the design-for-recycling guidelines for glass packaging - how glass packaging should be designed to ensure it can be recycled.
These guidelines are currently being finalised by CEN (a European standardisation body), together with stakeholders from across the value chain — from glass makers and recyclers to brand owners, equipment suppliers and extended producer responsibility schemes. Recyclability guidelines will require regular review and improvement to reflect innovations in design, collection, sorting and recycling.
By grounding future policy in real-world evidence, the study helps ensure that the future work of the European Commission on design for recycling criteria for glass packaging is technically sound and aligned with Europe’s state-of-the-art recycling practices. This will proactively contribute to Europe’s circular economy and industrial resilience.
FERVER and FEVE say they remain committed to working closely with European and national policymakers to ensure that packaging regulations accurately reflect what Europe’s recycling systems can already achieve today.
The full press release is available on the FEVE website
