Michigan State University School of Packaging students Jeanne Zamojski, Amy Weatherhead, and Alexandra Peterson are the first place winners in GPI’s 2008 Glass Packaging Design Competition for their wine bottle design (above).

“Winning was a surprise,” says Alex Peterson, “but we made a big team effort.” Teammate Jeanne Zamojski adds, “From the beginning our goal was to win. To do that, we knew we needed to come up with a unique and memorable design.” A square-based bottle structure helped them get high marks for originality and innovation.
 
The competition is part of MSU Professor Dennis Young’s Packaging 221 Glass and Metal Packaging course. A total of 28 randomly assigned teams participated in the competition, which emphasized original design concepts. “While we wanted students to use good glass design techniques, we were really looking for innovation and creativity,” says Young.
 
The team chose a bottle made from green glass, which can be easily recycled, and protects the product from ultraviolet light. “I think we accomplished what we set out to do,” adds Zamojski. “We created an environmentally friendly package that is aesthetically pleasing and matches an upscale market.”  More

“A Look Inside”: Jamestown Glasshouse Marks 400th Anniversary

Jamestown, VA, America’s first permanent English settlement, celebrated its 400th anniversary last year, but 2008 marks the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Glasshouse.

“This anniversary marks the beginning of one of the first industries introduced on this continent,” says GPI President Joe Cattaneo. “Glass making continues to flourish in the United States today covering a wide variety of consumer products, building materials, insulation, fiber optics, and other goods.”

The German Embassy celebrated the anniversary with a historic marker erected at the 1608 ruins which describes the contribution of German artisans. A Polish contingent is planning a celebration in October. In 1608, the Virginia Company of London brought several German and Polish glassblowing artisans to Jamestown, Virginia to set-up glassworks in the new colony. More

PACKAGING TRENDS

For Cosmetics Products, Glass Completes the Package

Leaders from AVON, Pangea Organics, and Nàdarra Skin Care Talk about Choosing Glass Containers for Purity, Recyclability, and Sustainability

For the health-conscious consumer, buying products in glass packaging is the ‘natural’ choice. Consumer preference for glass is particularly strong for cosmetics products, as glass protects them from degradation and chemical interactions, which is key to a cosmetic product’s image and viability.

While glass containers have always been the gold standard, leaders in the personal care and cosmetics industry have expanded their reasons for choosing glass from its premium image and pure, synthetic-free composition to also include the recyclable and sustainable benefits of glass … creating the complete cosmetic package.

• Nàdarra Skin Care

• Pangea Organics

• AVON

GPI Recognizes 10 North American Glass Plants in National Awards Program

The Glass Packaging Institute recognized 10 glass container manufacturing facilities for excellence in creating award-winning products in a national packaging design competition called the Clear Choice Awards. The glass container plants honored include facilities from Owens-Illinois, Inc., Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc., and Vitro Packaging.

“Glass is the preferred packaging material for ‘premium,’ ‘pure,’ and ‘sustainable’ new products,” said GPI President Joseph Cattaneo. “We congratulate the employees of these local facilities for their contributions in bringing these products to the marketplace. Their hard work reflects the glass container manufacturing industry’s commitment to product innovation, sustainability, and quality manufacturing.” See the list of winning glass container manufacturing plants

LEGISLATION

GPI Supports NC Tax Credit Legislation

North Carolina House Bill 2679, introduced last month, would provide a tiered tax credit of either $250 or $500 per year to assist Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) permit holders comply with the state’s law requiring them to recycle all bottles and cans.

Working with the North Carolina Restaurant Association, GPI sent a letter of support to the bill’s author, Rep. Pryor Gibson. H.B. 2679 would encourage ABC permit holders to recycle beyond the minimum through this program. A preliminary analysis of the program indicates that the new law will generate an additional 50,000 – 75,000 tons annually of recycled glass. The costs associated with this program are born solely by the permit holder and are estimated to be $1,800 annually.

Oregon Bottle Bill Task Force Releases Preliminary Proposal

The Oregon Bottle Bill Task Force has released a preliminary proposal on modernizing the state’s container deposit system. Under consideration is the possibility of having the beverage container industry operate the statewide system. Highlights of the proposal include keeping the deposit rate at five cents for containers less than 24 ounces and the exclusion of aseptic packaging from any expansion. The refund value would also double, under the proposal, if the state does not reach an 80% beverage container recycling rate by 2015.

New York Assembly Passes Container Deposit Expansion

The New York State Assembly has once again passed legislation that would expand the current container redemption system to include a five-cent deposit on all non-carbonated drinks, sports drinks, juices, and iced teas. Assembly leaders and supporters of the legislation claim these containers make up 27% of beverage sales in the state. More

GLASS RECYCLING

NC News Reports Up Tick in Glass Recovery with ABC Law

Six months in to a state law requiring bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to recycle their glass bottles and cans, Fayetteville, NC reports that things have changed. This includes more recycled glass containers at recycling facilities and less trash at restaurants. County officials also note that the law has created an overall increase in recycling as container collection programs have been created at other public and private businesses. Watch the news video

Colorado Glass Container Recycler Wins Award

Dahl Recycling, an independent glass container recycler in Colorado Springs, won the Colorado Association for Recycling’s “Outstanding Business Recycling/Diversion Program” award, which was presented during the Association’s May conference in Aspen.

Dahl Recycling contracts with more than 60 bars and restaurants throughout the city to pick up bar glass at no charge, and then sells the glass to Coors Brewing Company’s glass plant to be made into new beer bottles. More

Glass Container Recycling in CA Hits 67%

A California Department of Conservation report on beverage container recycling in 2007 found that glass—and all other materials—rose to record numbers. A total of 14.7 billion beverage containers were recycled in 2007, 1.5 billion more than in 2006, for a recycling rate of 67%. The glass container recycling rate also hit 67%, up from 59% in 2006.

This increase comes during a year when sales for California Refund Value (CRV) beverage containers were flat. The rise is largely attributed to a January 1, 2007 CRV rate increase to 5 cents for beverage containers less than 24 ounces. Get the full report

1000 WORDS

Recycling glass bottles reduces pollution and helps save our earth. See the facts

Copyright © 2008 Glass Packaging Institute 

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