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Why is glass so sustainable?
Raw Materials
Supplies of sand and limestone will last for thousands of years unlike the
basic raw material used to produce most other forms of packaging. |
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| Recyclability
• Glass never wears out, so it can be recycled forever without any reduction in quality or properties for every glass bottle recycled, enough energy is saved to run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. |
• The majority of glass recovered each year goes directly into the manufacture of new containers – a process that can go on indefinitely without loss of product integrity or quality. |
• Glass is a mono layer material and therefore does not need to be separated prior to recycling. |
• With the right infrastructure in place glass can reach recycling rates in excess of 90%. This has already been achieved in countries like Switzerland, Germany and Holland. |
• Even if it does reach landfill its inert nature means that it will not give off harmful greenhouse gases like methane – nor will it have any detrimental effect on marine life if it is discarded on our coasts or at sea. |
• Some new recycling facilities crush the glass which is then sold as granules that can be used in the manufacture of bricks, water filtration medium, pavers and roof tiles. Using the glass to make bricks and papers stops salt water from breaking down the clay, making these products ideal for use in coastal areas or landscaping around swimming pools. In addition to building materials, the recycled glass can also be used as an abrasive in sand blasting and as a filtration system for pools. |
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