Glass Packaging Institute –
Industry Update
Bryan Vickers, GPI
Carolina Recycling Association
Annual Conference
Myrtle Beach, SC
April 10, 2013
Glass is ENDLESSLY Recyclable
About the GPI
The Glass Packaging Institute represents the North American glass container
industry:
 6 member glass container producers
 33 associate member supplier companies
Through GPI, glass container manufacturers advocate job preservation and industry
standards; provide education; and promote sound energy, environmental, and
recycling policies.
About the GPI
 48 glass container plants in 22 states comprise a $5.5 billion dollar
industry
 102 glass container furnaces produce approximately 30 billion glass
food, beverage, cosmetic, spirits, wine, and beer containers
annually
 The industry employs approximately 2,600 salaried and
represented hourly employees in the five California glass plants,
380 in the Verallia Washington state plant and 220 in the OI
Portland plant. Approximately 18,000 employees nationwide.
2011 U.S. Glass Container
Shipments by Category
Source: Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
2012 U.S. Glass Container
Shipments by Category
Source: Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
U.S. Glass Container Shipments & Production
2012 vs. 2011
Categories
Shipments
Production
2012
2011
Food
-3.6%
-0.4%
NA Beverages
+1.5%
-8.9%
Beer
+2.0%
+2.8%
Liquor
+0.8%
+1.2%
RTD Alcohol
-9.2%
-8.4%
Wine
+1.0%
-0.3%
Other
+10.7%
TOTAL
Source: Glass
Packaging Institute
+0.5%
FLAT
+0.4%
GPI Industry Recycling Goals: Achieve
50% Recycled Content by 2013
 First Objective:
– Preserve U.S. jobs in an “Energy Intensive,
Trade Exposed” environment:
 Improve global competitiveness
 Reduce foreign energy dependency
 Support improved materials management models,
many of which currently face serious economic and
performance challenges
GPI Industry Recycling Goals: Achieve
50% Recycled Content by 2013
 Second Objective:
– Drive industry sustainability initiatives
 Conserve energy
 Save raw materials
 Reduce air emissions … including NOx, SOx, PM,
and greenhouse gases (e.g. CO2)
 “Reduce/Reuse” in all aspect of plant operations …
water, cardboard, lubricants, electricity, etc.
Achieving the Goal
To achieve goal must improve the quantity and quality of
recovered recycled glass:
 Partnerships with stakeholders to improve
glass recycling/recovery rates
 Improved data collection/analysis
 Effective legislative initiatives at federal
and state levels
 A single-stream recycling best practices
“SWOT” analysis, including processing
technologies
 Expanded bar, restaurant, and hotel
collection programs
 A consumer glass recycling “ethic”
Closed-Loop Glass Recycling
High-quality recycled glass =
New glass bottles and jars
=
Environmental Benefits of Glass Recycling
 Glass is 100% recyclable; it has an
unlimited life and can be recycled
endlessly
 Over a ton of natural resources saved
for every ton of glass recycled
 Energy costs drop about 2-3% for every
10% recycled glass used in the
manufacturing process
 Six tons of recycled container glass used
equals one ton of carbon dioxide
reduced
Federal Activity:
Glass Recycling-Related Issues
 “Request for Comments” on U.S. EPA Municipal
Solid Waste Report:
 Covers national recycling rates, including those for
glass – Currently Under Agency Review
 GPI and member companies asked EPA to:
 Examine “end markets” prior to issuing recycling rates for
glass, including distinction between container and diversion
markets
 Examine “recovery” rates for the different collection
programs (single stream, drop off, deposits, etc.)
Federal Activity:
Department of Energy/CEQ
 President Obama signed into law earlier this year
legislation that includes consideration and a
study examining the benefits of recycling in
energy intensive manufacturing processes.
 Congress, through the DOE and the CEQ will
begin working with stakeholders to determine
study parameter this Spring.
 Glass container industry will seek a focus on
input (i.e. use of recycled materials), rather than
technology.
State Activity
• GPI and many member companies support policies and
legislation at the state level that encourage closed loop
recycling – recycling most likely to result in the reuse of
collected materials in a manufacturing process.
• In 2013, GPI and several member companies have testified
in support of legislation to accomplish these measures in
Iowa, Indiana, Maryland and Texas.
• Support is not limited to container deposit refund
programs, but also bar and restaurant legislation.
Key Issue GPI is Following – Extended Producer
Responsibility (EPR)
•
EPR is a financing mechanism now used in
Europe and North America to partially fund
packaging recovery and recycling systems.
•
Packaging manufacturers have a
responsibility to serve as, and develop, end
markets to help maximize closed-loop
recycling.
•
Consumer deposit programs can be effectively
utilized within an EPR system to create a more
comprehensive and effective program.
 Deposits have proven to be highly effective
to ensure quality recycling and are successful
in many jurisdictions.
 At least 65% of recycled glass for GPI
members is sourced from 10 states
•
Many unresolved issues at the state level
where EPR is being addressed.
15
GPI Academic Program:
Participating Schools
Glass Container Outreach
Glass Packaging Institute
website: www.gpi.org
Inside Glass Packaging
monthly e-newsletter
www.gpi.org