Glass Recycling & Sustainability
The Misconceptions and Challenges of Glass Recycling.
We put some of our wines in cardboard bottles, and we are clear that we do this because part of our mission is to help the wine industry decarbonise. However, the biggest single piece of feedback we get from people is their assertion that glass is infinitely recyclable so why are we bothering?
Glass recycling is often touted as a sustainable practice with significant environmental benefits. However, a deeper examination of the facts and current practices reveals that the effectiveness and prevalence of glass recycling are not as robust as commonly perceived.
Low Recycling Rates
Despite the infinite recyclability of glass, the actual rates of recycling are surprisingly low. In the United States, only about 33% of glass is recycled, a figure that has remained relatively stagnant over the years. This low rate is indicative of a larger problem: a significant portion of glass waste ends up in landfills rather than being recycled.
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/environmental-benefits-of-glass-recycling
Infrastructure and Quality Challenges
The success of glass recycling is heavily dependent on the infrastructure in place. Currently, the systems for collecting, sorting, and processing glass are inadequate to significantly increase recycling rates. Furthermore, the quality of recycled glass, or cullet, is crucial. Poor waste segregation and contamination can severely degrade the quality of recycled glass, making it less suitable for producing new glass products.
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/environmental-benefits-of-glass-recycling
Economic and Logistical Hurdles
The economics of glass recycling presents another challenge. Collection and processing costs, coupled with transportation expenses due to glass's weight, often make recycling glass more expensive than producing new glass. These economic barriers are significant hurdles that need to be addressed to make glass recycling more widespread and effective.
https://www.bcg.com/publications/2021/environmental-benefits-of-glass-recycling
Environmental Considerations
While recycling glass reduces air and water pollution, the process is not without its environmental impact. Energy consumption, particularly in the melting stage, remains a concern, especially if the energy used is not derived from renewable sources. Moreover, the glass industry's dependence on fossil fuels for heating furnaces contributes substantially to its carbon footprint.
https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/teacher_resources/project_ideas/recycling_glass/
Slow Pace of Innovation and Adoption
The adoption of low-carbon melting technologies, essential for reducing the carbon footprint of glass production and recycling, is progressing slowly. Technologies like electrification and hydrogen-based melting have not yet been widely implemented. This slow pace of innovation and adoption further complicates efforts to make glass recycling more environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
While glass recycling holds potential benefits for the environment, it faces several significant challenges. The low recycling rates, infrastructure inadequacies, economic barriers, environmental impacts, and slow technological innovation collectively hinder the effectiveness of glass recycling.
We choose to use a cardboard bottle because it uses significantly fewer resources to create it, 6 times less carbon emitted, and 4 times less fresh water. We do not want to make something that adds to a serious ongoing problem, but we love wine and we want to share what we can make.
Finally, we are not anti-glass. There’s a time and a place for it. If you’re buying a premium wine, that you may be gifting, or keeping for a special occasion, of course, glass works. But if you’re buying a bottle to drink in a day or two, why do we need to pollute so much?
