The European container glass industry is actively advocating for collaborative efforts to create a packaging solution that is both fully circular and climate neutral. This initiative highlights the significant role of glass in sustainable food and beverage packaging.
This commitment is encapsulated in the industry’s pivotal report, which stands as the most comprehensive examination of decarbonisation strategies within the glass manufacturing sector to date. This research is essential for informing stakeholders on the steps necessary to enhance sustainability in food and beverage packaging.
The report is further supported by a dedicated section on the FEVE website, featuring an Online Map that highlights over 90 case studies representing industry efforts towards decarbonisation throughout Europe. While the industry is steadfast in its commitment, it recognizes that achieving these ambitious goals requires collaboration beyond its immediate interests.
FEVE, the European Container Glass Federation, emphasizes the urgent need for access to affordable low-carbon energy, which is essential for the industry to meet its net zero target by 2050. Currently, a staggering 80% of direct carbon emissions in the glass container sector stem from the combustion of natural gas. Consequently, transitioning to low-carbon energy sources becomes an imperative first step. Notably, over 90% of glass containers produced in the EU originate from manufacturers who have aligned their targets with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
It is equally crucial to secure new financial instruments or maintain existing ones to support the industry’s transition. Given that glass furnaces have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years with an estimated annual replacement rate of 7% to 10%, a strategic replacement of older furnaces with those that utilize low-carbon technologies is vital.
FEVE asserts that “the window for action” is right now, underscoring the urgency for the sector to achieve its 2050 net zero target. Currently, the glass container industry invests over €600 million annually in innovation and decarbonisation projects, including efficiency upgrades and enhancements to manufacturing plants. To fully realize net zero, an estimated additional €20 billion in capital expenditure will be required by 2050 to upgrade technologies and decarbonise operations. This estimate conservatively omits considerations of increased operational costs associated with transitioning to low-carbon energy sources.
Notably, glass container manufacturers remain resolute in their dedication to overcoming the decarbonisation challenge. They are committed to meeting the growing customer demand for low-carbon solutions while positioning glass as the preeminent food and beverage packaging material of the future. Glass, as a permanent material, can be recycled infinitely without loss of quality, and boasts an impressive recycling collection rate in Europe—80.2% in 2022—predominantly in a closed-loop system. Additionally, glass is a safe packaging choice that does not leach harmful chemicals into products, irrespective of the number of recycling cycles.
In this light, the industry urges its customers to continue placing their trust in glass as a vital food and beverage packaging solution, inviting them to join in this transformative journey towards a sustainable future.
With 162 glass manufacturing plants throughout Europe, the glass container industry supports approximately 125,000 direct and indirect jobs. Moreover, over €140 billion worth of EU exports are packaged in glass, with an estimated 45,000 manufacturing companies across the EU relying on glass packaging to market their products—98% of which are SMEs.
