Bulgaria’s glass packaging value chain has come together to launch Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria, a new national platform designed to accelerate glass collection and recycling and strengthen collaboration across the entire glass packaging value chain.
The initiative brings together Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisations, glass manufacturers and recyclers, waste management operators, municipalities, as well as brands and fillers under a common framework to improve glass packaging circularity and support the transition towards a more resource-efficient economy.
As Bulgaria continues to advance its waste management and circular economy agenda and implement European targets on packaging waste prevention, separate collection and recycling, the new platform will serve as a catalyst for coordinated action, knowledge-sharing and innovation.
The launch follows the international workshop “Towards a Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria”, held in Sofia on September 16 and co-organised by Close the Glass Loop, ECOBULPACK Bulgaria and BA Glass Bulgaria. The event brought together more than 50 experts and decision-makers from across the glass packaging value chain to identify priorities and opportunities for improving glass collection and recycling performance.
Participants highlighted the need to expand and optimise separate collection systems, strengthen cooperation between municipalities and EPR organisations, improve monitoring and data collection, increase citizen engagement, and unlock additional glass collection opportunities from the hospitality sector. They also explored the implications of new European packaging legislation and exchanged best practices from across Europe.
The newly established platform will build on these discussions to develop a national Close the Glass Loop Action Plan for Bulgaria.
BA Glass, which operates two glass packaging production facilities in Bulgaria, is supporting the initiative as part of the broader European partnership driving glass circularity.
The launch of Close the Glass Loop Bulgaria marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration bringing together stakeholders across the glass value chain to identify system gaps, align priorities and drive measurable improvements in glass collection and recycling.