OPINION: As a key component of the UK’s environmental strategy, glass recycling demonstrates the powerful potential of closed-loop systems in reducing waste and emissions. Few materials match glass in recyclability: its capacity to retain quality through endless recycling cycles makes it uniquely suited to circular economy frameworks. While awareness and legislation have made progress, 23.8% of the UK’s glass is still not recycled, demonstrating the gap between current outcomes and what is achievable.
Why should we recycle glass?
- Energy efficiency and carbon reductions
A compelling reason to recycle glass is its energy efficiency. When glass is recycled, it’s broken down into cullet, which has a much lower melting point than virgin glass, meaning that 40% less energy is required to return this into a packaging product. For each tonne of glass that is recycled in the manufacturing process, it saves roughly 315kg of CO2.1 Embracing this approach is a clear-cut decision from a carbon-saving standpoint.
- Conservation of natural resources
Glass production is reliant on materials such as limestone and sand. Recycling glass reduces the requirement to extract and ship these materials. In turn, this helps preserve our ecosystems and supports the reduction of the extraction industry’s carbon footprint.
How policy is shaping the future of glass recycling
Recent legislation changes are reshaping the landscape of glass recycling in the UK – placing greater responsibility on producers, brand owners and recyclers alike.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, packaging producers must now cover the entire cost of managing their packaging waste. This motivates companies to reconsider how they design their products and packaging – focusing on increased recyclability. The goal of EPR is to drive the development of more sustainable, easily recyclable packaging, thereby boosting overall recycling rates.
A key aspect of this is the introduction of “disposal fees” (often referred to as “waste management fees”) to cover the cost of collection and sortation of household recycling. These fees are calculated based on the material and weight of packaging, which means that glass is typically more expensive than other material types due to its inherent density. For example, a standard 500ml glass bottle weighs around 300g whereas an equivalent PET plastic container typically weights just 25g. It is not yet clear whether the calculation will be amended in the future, or if the introduction of fee modulation based on recyclability will lessen the financial impact on glass packaging.
- Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
The rollout of Deposit Return Schemes (DRS) across different regions of the UK marks a significant advancement in efforts to increase recycling rates. Unlike England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which have yet to incorporate glass into their DRS programs, Wales has taken a proactive approach by including it, acknowledging the positive impact this can have on recycling performance. Under the DRS model, consumers pay a refundable deposit on beverage containers, which encourages the return of glass bottles for recycling and supports the development of a closed-loop system for glass packaging.
Challenges in glass recycling
Several challenges still continue to hinder progress in glass recycling.
- Infrastructure limitations
Although glass recycling rates have steadily improved, substantial investment is still needed to modernise and expand UK recycling infrastructure. This involves enhancing collection systems, adopting more advanced sorting technologies, and upgrading processing facilities. Without these key improvements, national recycling rates will struggle to progress.
- Demand for recycled glass
A key barrier to higher recycling rates is limited demand for recycled glass in manufacturing. Despite its high quality, recycled glass can be more expensive or less available than virgin glass. The market needs to better accommodate the use of recycled glass, ensuring that manufacturers are willing to pay a premium for it. Policies that promote the use of recycled materials in the production of new goods could help address this issue. While the environmental benefits of recycling are clear, the cost competitiveness of virgin glass often makes it the preferred option for manufacturers, especially when prices for recycled glass fluctuate or when supply is inconsistent.
- Carbon intensity of recycling processes
While recycling glass is more energy-efficient than producing new glass, the process of collecting, sorting, and transporting the glass to be recycled can still be carbon-intensive. Improvements in logistics, sorting technologies and energy use in recycling plants could reduce the carbon footprint of the recycling process further.
Opportunities for improvement
Despite these challenges, there are several opportunities to increase glass recycling rates in the UK and harness the full potential of glass as a sustainable material.
- Closed-loop recycling
Glass is uniquely suited to closed-loop recycling, retaining quality through endless cycles. This creates a truly sustainable cycle of production and recycling. Expanding closed-loop systems would cut virgin glass use, reduce energy demand, and lower carbon emissions – helping the UK advance towards its circular economy goals.
- Refill and reuse systems
Refill and reuse systems also offer a promising opportunity for reducing glass waste. Encouraging consumers to refill glass bottles instead of purchasing new ones reduces both the production of new glass and the transportation costs associated with single-use packaging. Refill schemes, especially for beverages, cleaning products, and personal care items, are gaining traction in the UK. Expanding such systems across a range of industries could further reduce the environmental impact of glass packaging and foster a culture of sustainability.
The European glass packaging industry launched the “Close the Glass Loop” initiative, with the aim of increasing glass collection for recycling to 90% by 2030. This highlights the need for separate collection systems and high-quality sorting to ensure that recycled glass (cullet) is effectively reused in manufacturing. Whilst this target is ambitious, continued collaboration between industry stakeholders, consumers and local authorities is key to achieving this goal and advancing us toward a more sustainable and circular economy.
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