Today, sustainability tops the agenda – for consumers, brands, politicians and manufacturers alike. People see that their own footprint matters, and demand more from businesses, governments and one another in turn. Their expectations are crystal-clear: businesses should be doing more to help them make more sustainable choices. Glass is recyclable and protects the integrity of the product inside. In the International Year of Glass, we want to remind the world what they already love about glass. That’s why we’ve created the Glass Hallmark.
Glass is simple, made from materials found in nature. It is also infinitely recyclable, with endless lives. The same glass material can be indefinitely reused without any loss of quality, in an endless loop, and recycled again and again into new bottles and jars. This reduces waste, cuts CO₂ emissions and saves raw material.
Small actions make a difference. By choosing to buy and recycle glass, everyone can play their part in protecting the health of our planet. People can actively contribute to reduce packaging waste, save raw materials, and help achieve a 100% collection rate across Europe by recycling their glass items wherever possible.
Glass is a sustainably sound packaging material. Because of its inherent properties, glass acts as a safe barrier to external agents, meaning products are safely preserved for longer in glass, even once opened. This makes glass the natural choice for preserving not only the quality of the product, but the health of the people who use it.
The more sustainable future we strive for will be built step by step and choice by choice, in moments big and small. Every time we choose glass, we are choosing that future, and promising to do our part to make that future real. It’s a promise to protect health – of individuals, of the planet, of society.
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We all strive for a better tomorrow – a world where the planet and people are healthier and happier than they are today. In the face of global warming, public health crises and economic turbulence, that future has never felt more uncertain. But people are demanding more from businesses, governments and one another to ensure we foster a more sustainable world for the next generation.
In such turbulent times, it’s reassuring to know that for product protection, one aspect of our future is clear: glass packaging. The timelessness of glass means the packaging people have loved most, yesterday and today, is the very best option for tomorrow.
Glass is the packaging of choice for safeguarding our planet.
Made entirely of raw materials found in nature, glass is simple and does no significant harm to the environment. It’s the only packaging that’s both reusable and infinitely recyclable, with endless lives: glass can be recycled again and again, in an endless loop, into new bottles and jars. This reduces waste, cuts CO2 emissions and saves raw materials. And the industry is working to make glass production even more sustainable and climate neutral by designing more efficient “Furnaces for the Future,” built on renewable energy and hybrid technologies to reduce carbon emissions significantly.
Glass is a trusted and proven choice for those seeking wellness.
As an everyday packaging material, it is natural, sustainable and safe – crucial at a time when the health credentials of packaging are becoming even more important to people. Because of its inherent inertness and protective properties, glass acts as a safe barrier to external agents, meaning products are preserved for longer in glass, even once opened. This makes glass the natural choice for preserving not only the quality of the product, but the health of the people who use it. The industry is partnering with customers to introduce the Glass Hallmark onto packaging, serving, in part, to symbolise the commitment made to health and quality when choosing glass.
Glass is a key resource for achieving a thriving, circular European society.
Reusable and endlessly recyclable, glass packaging is a role model for circularity. It can be taken back to the store and directly refilled, or recycled again and again without loss of quality. And the industry – a longtime leader in circularity – is convening stakeholders across the entire glass value chain to ‘Close the Glass Loop’ and drive a 90% collection rate of glass by 2030 to make our circular economy work better.
The industry also remains committed to building on its longstanding cultural heritage to drive sustainable growth for the continent. European glassmaking is adapting and innovating to secure the future of the industry – the jobs that come with it and essential sectors that depend on it – and ensure glass is fit for the circular and climate-neutral economy Europe’s 2050 sustainability targets will bring.
We can’t forecast the future. It will be built step-by-step and choice-by-choice, in moments large and small. But when it comes to packaging, the future is made clear. Our future is glass: the preferred material for sustainable, healthy, reusable and infinitely recyclable closed loop packaging. Choosing glass is choosing a better future – and promising to do our part to make that future real. It’s a promise to protect health – of the planet, of people, of society – so that we thrive together for generations to come.
Glass. Choose tomorrow, today.
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Glass manufacturing is changing. To continue to make glass packaging fit for Europe’s future, we must address one final aspect of its environmental performance: its carbon footprint.
Today, dozens of initiatives are already underway across Europe to reduce glass packaging’s carbon footprint and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Our 2024 decarbonisation report describes how our industry is progressing on making net zero container glass production a reality.
For brands and retailers, choosing the right packaging for their products can be a real challenge. Countless factors need to be considered when that time comes – from environmental aspects, to packaging safety and design – all with customer satisfaction in mind.
That’s why we’ve developed a guide to help brands navigate the packaging landscape and address some of the most common misconceptions about glass and other packaging materials.
Consumers are increasingly changing their habits to be more environmentally conscious and better consider the circularity of the products they buy. As a result, brands are facing increasing pressure to adopt sustainable practices throughout their supply chains. The choice of packaging plays a pivotal role in shaping a brand’s environmental footprint, which is why the glass packaging industry is investing in decarbonisation as a key imperative in the pursuit of sustainable packaging solutions. There are a variety of pathways possible and one significant leap forward comes from the Ardagh Group.
Read moreFrom artisanal spirits to world-renowned fragrances, packaging is a key component of some of Europe’s most beloved products and an important part of brand identity, helping consumers differentiate between products.
But with a transformation of EU packaging rules on the cards, brands and retailers will need to adapt their approach to packaging. The coming challenge? Finding new ways to reduce packaging waste and promote reuse and recycling, while safeguarding packaging quality and their brand identity.
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