The latest data released by Close the Glass Loop shows that the EU average collection for recycling rate of glass packaging continued to progress, reaching 80,8 percent in 2023.
Collection volumes remained exceptionally high with more than 12 million tonnes of glass packaging collected for recycling. The collection rate may even be higher, but tracking has become increasingly difficult as Member States are required to report on effective recycling, and no longer on collection for recycling.
This performance reflects well-established practices in favour of glass packaging separate collection for households and hospitality businesses alike, and a strong network of operators ensuring collected glass is effectively recycled and brought back to one of the 162 glass packaging manufacturing plants in Europe.
While the progress is encouraging, further efforts and investments are needed to bring the necessary step change towards achieving the target of 90 percent glass collection for recycling by 2030. This was the key message from European and national partners of Close the Glass Loop during today’s online press conference.
“Across the value chain there is a strong commitment to keep improving cost-effective separate collection system for glass packaging, both for households and hospitality businesses. Once glass packaging is collected, we estimate that 85 percent is effectively recycled in a closed loop. This is what gives glass packaging a unique role in Europe’s circular economy.” said Carlo Pirrone, Secretary General of FEVE – the European Container Glass Federation.
On a national level, there are positive signals from Portugal and Greece, who increased by 12,6 and 11,1 percent respectively the total amounts collected compared to 2022, outpacing the volumes placed on the market. Spain also recorded a 7 percent increase in total collected volumes from 2022, jumping from a 69,9 to a 75,9 percent glass collection for recycling rate. Finally, Italy, which represents close to 18 percent of the total market for glass packaging in the EU, surpassed the 90 percent glass collection for recycling target for the first time.
The full report is available here.