{"id":1177,"date":"2024-06-24T14:30:45","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T14:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/friendsofglass.com\/?page_id=1177"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:24:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T12:24:50","slug":"sustainability","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/friendsofglass.com\/why-glass\/sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Glass- sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Environmental Benefits<\/p>\r\n

Is glass a sustainable material?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h1>\r\n
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At a time when environmental challenges are high on the global agenda, the concept of sustainability has never been more important.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>United Nations, sustainability can be defined<\/span><\/a> as \u201cmeeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs\u201d. It\u2019s essentially the capacity to endure, and it\u2019s how biological systems remain diverse and productive indefinitely.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If we want to secure the future of our planet for future generations, we n<\/span>eed to consider the impact of <\/span>our\u202fbehaviours. But\u202f<\/span>leading\u202fa more sustainable lifestyle<\/span><\/a> doesn\u2019t have to be difficult. Small changes can make all the difference: for example, by choosing ethically-made products and packaging <\/span>materials<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the concept of sustainable packaging itself can be difficult to grasp, it\u2019s important that you do some research and learn about the pros and cons of each material before making an informed and sustainable decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

To help you in this search, we present some of the properties of glass and how you can integrate it into living a more sustainable lifestyle.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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1. Glass is recyclable\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the qualities of glass, compared to other materials, is that it can be endlessly recycled. This means that recycled content is always part of the recipe for new containers without losing quality in the process (see <\/span>Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro\u2019s report<\/span><\/a>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, glass is already widely recycled by people all over Europe, with an <\/span>average collection rate of 80.1%<\/span><\/a>, of which 92% is effectively recycled (according to the <\/span>Close The Glass Loop latest figures<\/span><\/a>).<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And through this\u202fongoing bottle-to-bottle system,\u202fit can take as little as <\/span>a month for a bottle to be back on the shelves<\/span><\/a>.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Glass is reusable <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As <\/span>glass is a permanent material<\/span><\/a>, it can be reused without compromising its quality.\u202fReusable systems, such as the ones that deliver milk bottles to your door, have been around for decades.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But there are also other sustainable ideas on how you can reuse\u202fyour containers at home. Whether it\u2019s for storing food, creating terrariums or turning jars into candle holders – the creative possibilities are endless!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Discover<\/span> all the DIY ideas on our blog.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Glass is<\/span> an<\/span> inert<\/span> material<\/span><\/h2>\n

Thanks to its chemical make-up, <\/span><\/span>g<\/span>lass <\/span>is considered as one of the most inert materials<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span> It<\/span> <\/span>acts as a secure barrier against external <\/span><\/span>influences and<\/span> protect<\/span>s<\/span> f<\/span><\/span>ood and drinks<\/span><\/span> from <\/span>high temperatures<\/span> and bacteria. <\/span><\/span>I<\/span><\/span>ts <\/span>chemical c<\/span>o<\/span><\/span>mposition makes <\/span>it safe to store <\/span>food<\/span> products<\/span> (<\/span>see <\/span><\/span>Dieter Schrenk\u2019s 2014 findings<\/span><\/span><\/a>)<\/span>, <\/span>keeping them<\/span><\/span>\u202fsafe\u202ffor<\/span> longer, even once opened.\u202f<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4<\/span>. Glass can help you avoid waste<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

G<\/span>lass is<\/span> n<\/span>ot only <\/span>an all-time\u202ffavourite\u202fto preserve the taste<\/span><\/a> of your food and drinks<\/span>, b<\/span>ut <\/span>can also help you a<\/span>void<\/span> food waste.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How?<\/span>\u202f<\/span>Its transparency lets you easily distinguish products and know \u201cwhat is where\u201d without having to remove the lid. This allows you to identify more quickly if food is getting spoiled and prevent it from going to waste.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In short, glass\u2019 transparency doesn\u2019t only contribute to a compelling design but can also be a <\/span>powerful ally in reducing waste.\u202f\u202f<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5<\/span>. Glass can reflect and absorb solar energy<\/span><\/h2>\n

The\u202f<\/span>absorption\u202fproperties\u202fof glass<\/span><\/b>\u202fallow it to convert sunlight into energy \u2013 and\u202fbusinesses\u202fand\u202fhomes\u202faround the world are already <\/span>generating energy\u202fthrough\u202ftheir windows<\/span><\/a>\u202fand panels.\u202fIf you\u2019re trying\u202f<\/span>to add a touch of green to your home<\/span><\/a>, you should also know that glass is perfect for terrariums \u2013 it\u202fretains\u202fthe heat inside and creates the ideal microclimate for your plants.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But depending on the type and colour,\u202f<\/span>glass can also refract solar energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/b> The\u202f<\/span>colour\u202fof\u202fthe container<\/span><\/a>\u202fdetermines what types of light can penetrate the surface \u2013 that\u2019s why you so often see amber, green, and blue\u202fbottles.\u202fThis makes it a suitable material for protecting sensitive products (like beer, oils, and pharmaceuticals) from degradation and chemical reactions caused by sunlight.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Recycling glass saves energy, natural resources and reduces carbon emissions<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the advantages\u202fof recycling glass<\/span><\/a>\u202fis the\u202fenergy that is saved\u202fduring the manufacturing process (European Commission, <\/span>Joint Research Centre<\/span><\/a>).\u202fThe more recycled glass used (also called cullet), the less energy needed to produce new bottles and jars,\u202fas cullet\u202fmelts at a much lower temperature\u202fthan\u202fthe raw materials.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Using<\/span> r<\/span>ecycled glass <\/span>also\u202f<\/span>saves\u202fvirgin materials,<\/span><\/b>\u202fsuch as sand,\u202flimestone,\u202fand soda ash. But how much, you ask? E<\/span>very tonne of recycled glass used in production saves 1.2 tonnes of virgin raw materials <\/span>(FEVE, LCA 2012)<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Melting\u202fcullet faster\u202falso t<\/span>ranslates into<\/span>\u202fless\u202fcarbon\u202femissions.\u202fAnd we can\u2019t slow down the pace,\u202fbecause\u202fevery\u202ftonne\u202fof c<\/span>ullet<\/span> added to production saves 580 kg\u202fof CO2 (FEVE, LCA 2012).\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u202findustry\u202fis\u202falso\u202fworking on developing more low-carbon furnace technologies, known as the\u202f<\/span>Furnaces of the Future<\/span><\/a>, which aim to reduce\u202fmanufacturing CO2\u202femissions, making for more sustainable <\/span>packaging<\/span>.\u202f<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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<\/h3>\r\n

Now that you know more about the features of glass and the importance of recycling, don\u2019t forget to share these insights with your friends and family.\u202fYou too can contribute to our planet\u2019s wellbeing by raising awareness about sustainable practices and trying to lead a more conscious lifestyle.\u00a0 And the next time you\u2019re\u202fdeciding which product to pick up off the shelves, consider the packaging and choose options that promote a more sustainable life for both people and the environment.<\/p>\r\n

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Related posts<\/p>\r\n

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Living more sustainably \u2013 Is it difficult?<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

Today, we’re living in a changing world – one where our environment is on the brink of a crisis. Every day, this requires us to make choices aimed at adopting a more sustainable lifestyle – one that allows us to enjoy a healthy and full lifestyle, while at the same time respecting the world around us.\u00a0<\/p> \r\n

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5 ways you can help close the glass loop<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

We all have a part to play in building a more sustainable world, starting with how we shop, all the way down to how we get rid of our rubbish. This summer, organisations involved in all stages of the glass collection and recycling value chain have launched Close the Glass Loop \u2013 a major glass recycling action plan for Europe.<\/p> \r\n

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What are the benefits of glass in a circular economy?<\/a><\/h4>\r\n

The circular economy begins again as it ends, forming an endless cycle of materials. Glass is the perfect example of this when we think of the physical transformation from sand to glass and back to sand again, through the process of recycling.<\/p> \r\n

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