The circular economy is emerging as a major societal trend. Both markets and consumers are seeing how relevant it is to saving natural resources and energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This principle is being promoted at a European level, with one illustration in France being the adoption of the Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law (Loi AGEC). Verallia has made this a major focus of its sustainability and climate change policy, along with the decarbonisation of its industrial sites.
Glass recycling is obviously a key area for action. As an example, by increasing the volume of external cullet integrated into its production by 11% between 2020 and 2021, this is almost 81,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided. The reuse of glass containers is also making significant progress as well as the eco-design of products, which is already a commercial success story.
Our actions to enhance the circularity of glass packaging:
- Maximise the use of cullet in our products
- Expand glass reuse
- Help raise awareness and expand glass recycling
- Develop eco-design for sustainable products
- Optimise water use and reduce our waste
Find our detailed action plans in our CSR report.
Reimagining reuse for the circular economy of glass Our white book
As glassmaking experts, we cannot afford to be smug about producing an infinitely recyclable material. That’s a great starting point for our industry. But glass is only sustainable when it is reused when and wherever possible and then does, in fact, get recycled.
Michel Giannuzzi
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Verallia
We cannot simply recycle our way out of this issue. Reimagining how we bring products to people without relying on single-use packaging is a crucial part of the solution.
Andrew Morlet
CEO, Ellen MacArthur Foundation