Close the Glass Loop, the leading European initiative for glass packaging collection and recycling, has officially unveiled a new awareness campaign aimed at the hospitality sector. This initiative seeks to enhance both the quality and quantity of glass packaging collected for recycling in commercial settings like restaurants, bars, cafés, and hotels. By emphasizing the importance of separating glass packaging from other materials—particularly the risks associated with mixing glass and ceramics—the campaign aims to drive meaningful change. Central to this effort is a captivating video entitled “The Sound of Glass,” which conveys the message that while glass and ceramics may share the same table, they do not belong in the same recycling bin.
“Through this campaign, we will collaborate closely with our network of national partners to reach over 2 million HORECA businesses across the EU and the UK. Each year, these establishments account for approximately three million tonnes of single-use glass beverage packaging,” stated Carlo Pirrone, Secretary General of FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation. “Enhancing the quality of collected glass is a vital priority for the glass packaging industry, as it ensures a reliable supply of secondary raw materials for bottle-to-bottle recycling.”
Glass packaging stands as one of the most prevalent consumer packaging materials in Europe, especially in the food and drink sector. While predominantly used in households, the hospitality industry is estimated to represent nearly 20% of Europe’s glass recycling potential, marking it as a crucial contributor to the collected glass sent for recycling. In select countries and tourist destinations, this sector’s impact can be even more significant.
Once consumed, one-way glass packaging is collected and directed to glass cullet recycling facilities, where it is processed into cullet for remelting. However, if ceramics from dishes or tableware mix with the glass, this can lead to damaged glass furnaces and diminish the quality of new glass containers manufactured.
“Even small amounts of ceramics can disrupt the recycling process,” added Rene Schroeder, Secretary General of FERVER – the European Glass Recyclers’ Federation. “By separating glass from unwanted waste fractions, such as ceramics, at the source, we can ensure effective closed-loop recycling of glass packaging. This translates to high-quality cullet in the furnace. We believe this campaign will clarify the critical importance of proper separation at source in high-volume environments like HORECA for glass recyclers.”
The campaign has been meticulously developed in collaboration with the hospitality sector, represented by HOTREC – the Association of Hotels, Restaurants & Cafés in Europe, acknowledging its pivotal role in achieving a circular economy for glass packaging.
“High-quality glass recycling relies on effective separation at source and collection. Hospitality businesses play a decisive role in facilitating this process. With staff training and initiatives such as Close the Glass Loop, we can enhance the hospitality sector’s contribution to a competitive and circular European economy,” declared Marie Audren, Director General of HOTREC.
The video will be made available to national organizations to bolster tailored communication campaigns at the country level. Through this initiative, Close the Glass Loop aims to assist national partners in effectively reaching the hospitality sector while reinforcing the crucial message that keeping glass free from ceramics is essential to closing the glass loop.
To learn more, visit www.closetheglassloop.eu
