FERVER and FEVE welcome the publication of a new technical report by Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro (SSV), which provides robust scientific evidence on the actual recycling performance of opaque glass packaging in Europe.
The study, which was commissioned by FEVE and conducted with the operational support of FERVER members, identifies the minimum visible light transmittance threshold at which opaque glass fragments can still be correctly recognised as glass by the optical sorting systems nowadays used in Cullet Treatment Plants (CTPs). Through extensive laboratory measurements and industrial-scale trials, the research offers clear, data-driven insight into the state-of-the-art performance of Europe’s glass-recycling infrastructure.
The findings of the study support the conclusion that today, in Europe, optical sorting technologies can reliably identify opaque glass fragments with an average visible light transmittance higher than 2.5 percent, measured according to the opacity protocol currently being defined in the European Committee on Standardisation (CEN) taking into account the input of the International Technical Center for Bottling and Related Packaging (CETIE). This confirms that, when it comes to the actual performance of glass packaging recycling in Europe, current CTPs’ capabilities significantly exceed the much higher thresholds enshrined in some national packaging laws, which underestimate real-world sorting performance.
To ensure statistically robust findings, SSV conducted comprehensive industrial trials at nine CTPs across Europe, using 2,700 kilograms of standardised cullet from different types of opaque bottles, measuring false CSP (Ceramic, Stones, Porcelain) rejection rates under real operating conditions and across different sorting technologies.
Due to its robustness, the findings of this study are being taken into consideration in the development of the design-for-recycling technical specifications for glass packaging, currently being finalised by CEN with input from the whole value chain, including glass container manufacturers, Cullet Treatment Plants, fillers, label suppliers, closure producers, machinery providers and EPR schemes. Recyclability guidelines will require regular review and improvement to reflect innovations in design, collection, sorting and recycling.