Recent reports on chemicals associated with plastic containers have raised questions about the purity, health and environmental effects of food and beverage packaging. This scrutiny has turned the spotlight back to glass, a packaging material that remains as pure today as it was 4,000 years ago. Food and beverage brand managers, as well as consumers, are coming back to glass.

"There is a resurging interest in glass containers because of purity, health and environmental concerns with alternative packaging materials," said Joe Cattaneo, president of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI).

Researchers at the University of Missouri, University of Cincinnati, along with other leading academic institutes, medical professionals, and environmental non-profits, have cited significant concerns about the impact of chemicals associated with the use of plastic for food and beverage packaging. Environmental advocates have also voiced concern about the use of petroleum in plastics manufacturing, and the proliferation of a packaging that can be difficult to recycle.

According to the GPI, unlike other forms of packaging, glass containers are 100% recyclable and made with natural raw materials which are chemically inert. All glass containers whether new or recycled are equally pure.

"Glass has a 400-year legacy in the U.S. When it comes to delivering a superior container to protect the integrity of a food or beverage, nothing can provide that sense of security in packaging better than glass," said Cattaneo. "Glass containers are the only packaging container that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has generally recognized as safe. Members of the glass industry have always had reason to be proud of our product."

When plastic food and beverage containers were introduced in the 1970s, glass lost some ground, as brand managers started to experiment with plastic's lightweight and shatterproof properties. Within the last year, however, manufacturers of glass bottles have received an increasing amount of inquiries from hard plastic bottle makers responding to consumer fears about the plastic chemical bisphenol A (BPA). There is also growing awareness about the expanding islands of plastic in the world's oceans.

Owens-Illinois, Inc. (O-I), Saint Gobain Containers (S-G), and Vitro Packaging are all receiving inquiries from baby-bottle makers and food and beverage companies about making the move to glass.

According to Kevin Stevens, O-I's Vice President of Sales and Marketing in North America, O-I's Charlotte, Michigan plant has resumed production of glass baby bottles after a 20-year hiatus. These are expected to hit the market within a month.

"Consumers are demanding glass, and in turn, industry giants like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are again looking at glass bottles," said Stevens.

"Companies are beginning to make conscious decisions about choosing pure packaging for their products," said Cattaneo. "Start-up companies, such as Walnut Grove Spring Water and True Artesian Water, have both chosen glass over competing packaging materials for its purity and inert properties."

Walnut Grove Spring Water, manufactured by Vitro Packaging, received quite a buzz at the 2007 Emmy Awards, after stars such as Leeza Gibbons, Paula Abdul, Bradley Whitford and Lorraine Bracco expressed an overwhelming interest in the product because of the water's remarkably pure taste, and the environmentally-friendly glass package.

According to Ryan Bass, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer for the Indiana-based Walnut Grove Spring Water Company, "Our bottle is 100% recyclable, preserves the true essence of our premium natural spring water much better than plastic, and has been a real hit with our target consumer." Bass continues, "Walnut Grove Spring Water is literally about as good as water gets. We refuse to let its neutral pH, remarkably pure taste, and light mouth-feel be compromised by its packaging. No matter what the plastic people tell you, from simply my own consumer perspective, plastic packaging does interfere with those aspects."

Another start-up bottled water company that chose glass packaging is True Artesian, which launches its product in Spring 2008. To be successful, True Artesian believed they had to enter the market with an environmentally "correct" bottle.

"Eco friendly packaging is much more than a niche market. In my view, it is a socially responsible market driven by an environmental mandate," says Doug Houseworth, president of True Artesian Bottling Co.

Houseworth initially spent two years developing a business plan to launch with a corn-based bio-plastic known as PLA (polylactic acid). Houseworth and his team believed that True Artesian's environmentally conscious consumers would prefer an "earth friendly" bio-plastic over traditional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic.

"We realized the public is losing confidence in PET packaging for health reasons," says Houseworth. "Whether real or perceived, the alleged threat to our bodies from harmful chemicals that leach from PET bottles is but one of the driving forces that is bringing about changes in the industry."

But after investigating PLA more closely, True Artesian uncovered some potential hurdles. This was on top of a worldwide environmental move toward "zero waste," with a particularly intense focus on the bottled water industry. In the end, the company chose glass to launch its one-liter bottled water.

"Our logo and earth friendly bottle translate very well to glass," says Houseworth. "Glass for bottled water is getting the green endorsement."

Glass bottles are also making a comeback for dairy products. The Straus Family Creamery, a small, family-owned, organic dairy that caters to big, world-renowned restaurants such as The French Laundry and Chez Panisse, among other retail outlets, packages most of its 100% organic milk in 100% recyclable glass bottles.

According to the Straus Family Creamery website, "Milk poured from glass containers simply tastes better than milk that has been stored in plastic or cartons. And it works out great for the environment. Our customers have prevented a LOT of plastic from going into landfills."

Cosmetics companies are also choosing glass for health and environmental reasons. Pangea Organics—an organic personal-care product company that uses sustainable manufacturing processes to produce, distribute and market its products—is busy setting trends, and the bar, for sustainable business practices for the cosmetics industry. The company was the first in the world to introduce 100% biodegradable, compostable and plantable packaging in its field, and also has chosen glass for several of its products for environmental and purity reasons.

According to Joshua Onysko, Founder and CEO of Pangea Organics, "Glass is on the rise. Because sustainability is now one of the most formidable challenges facing the packaging industry, we should look for a comeback of glass packaging in the coming years." He continues, "Consumers ultimately set the standard for choosing a glass packaged product, which is an environmentally and socially responsible decision. By designing and using glass packaging, we are giving consumers what they want."

Pangea chose glass bottles for its Facial Cleanser, Facial Toners, Facial Creams, Facial Mask and Massage & Body Oils. "We package these products in glass for a number of reasons. Largely because glass is infinitely recyclable – and we love that! And, because it's simple to recycle in all communities… whereas plastics get more complicated," said Onysko. "We also chose glass because it serves as one of the main 'ingredients' in our all-natural preservative system. In other words, by choosing brown or green glass like we have, we are blocking UV rays from reaching the product and, therefore, reducing the risk of oxidation."

Consumer demand for glass containers is reflected in the U.S. glass container industry's production capacity and shipment reports for 2007. The U.S. glass container industry production was at capacity for the majority of 2007, and in 2008, two new glass facilities—one in the U.S. and one in Mexico—are expected to open.

Glass container shipments were up 1.0% from December 2006 (241,507) through December 2007 (244,084). Production of glass containers was also up 0.5% from December 2006 (247,257) through December 2007 (248,585), according to the Department of Commerce of the U.S. Census Bureau (Glass container shipments and production are reported in thousands gross. One thousand gross = 144,000). Glass dominates the wine and spirits markets and has a significant and growing share of the beer market.

O-I Doubles Capacity at Peru Glass Plant

Owens-Illinois announced it’s adding a second furnace to its new glass container manufacturing plant in Lurin, Peru, effectively doubling capacity. The $30 million expansion is expected to be operational second quarter 2009. O-I will also create a new global engineering center at the facility.
 
"The growing demand for glass packaging by various market segments in Peru, most notably the agricultural export market and the domestic beer market, has clearly demonstrated a need for increased production," said Jose Lorente, president, O-I Latin America.  Get news release

PACKAGING TRENDS

Entries are in, But Who Will Win?

GPI's 2008 Clear Choice Awards

Be the first to see this year's Clear Choice Awards winners during the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Save the Date for GPI's 2008 Clear Choice Awards, honoring the best in glass packaging design.

When:
Monday, May 5, 2008
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. — Complimentary Cocktails and Hors D'oeuvres
5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — Awards Presentation

Where:
Luxor Hotel and Casino
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Egyptian Ballroom B-C
Las Vegas, NV

Don't miss out! RSVP by April 25th

FTC Announces "Green Guides" and Packaging Workshop

The Federal Trade Commission is holding public workshops as part of its review of the "Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims," which were last revised in 1998. The next workshop is April 30 in Washington, DC and is open to the public. Workshop topics include packaging trends and environmental packaging claims, new green packaging terms (e.g., "sustainable" and "renewable"), and the substantiation for green packaging claims. Get workshop details

LEGISLATION

Deposit Legislation Introduced in Rhode Island

Senate Majority Leader Theresa Paiva-Weed has introduced Senate Bill 2771, which creates consumer deposit legislation for beverage containers. The bill would require consumers to pay a 5-cent deposit on all plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans containing carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, juice, sports drinks, water, soda, wine and beer. Aseptic packaging would be exempt.

Senator Weed is a strong recycling proponent and recently held a recycling summit to discuss the relevant issues. Three quarters of unredeemed deposits would revert monthly to the state treasurer. The remaining 25% would go to communities to support local recycling programs. Senate Bill 2771 is awaiting further consideration in the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture.

RISE Act Introduced in House

Congresswoman Melissa Bean has introduced the Recycling Investment Saves Energy Act (H.R. 5372), which differs in a few ways from legislation introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) in June of last year (S. 1587):

• It does not include a tax exempt bond financing provision for recycling facilities.
• It does not include a definition of "recycle" or attempt to congressionally define recycling.
• It clarifies that the only equipment to qualify for the accelerated depreciation allowance is equipment used to collect, distribute, or recycle qualified reuse and recycled materials.

The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the legislation will cost $162 million over 10 years.

Iowans Prefer Consumer Deposit Expansion

A Des Moines Register poll found that a majority support expanding Iowa's bottle bill to cover more types of containers. Sixty-two percent of Iowa adults favor expanding the law to include more containers, while 29% oppose expansion and 9% are unsure. The poll of 801 adults has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%. Iowa Governor Culver has recently focused attention on expansion of the consumer deposit program, rather than raising the deposit.

Container Deposit Legislation in Arizona

Arizona House Bill 2760 would add a five cent deposit to all 24-ounce containers for beer, soft drinks, distilled spirits, wine, wine coolers, juices, teas, coffee, and water.  For containers over 24 ounces, it’s a 10 cent deposit. The bill also establishes a state-run Beverage Container Recycling Fund, and gives six months for retail outlets, including grocery, convenience, and liquor stores, to establish on-side redemption centers.

GLASS RECYCLING

Raleigh, NC Promotes Container Recycling at Downtown Bars/Restaurants

With ABC permit holders now required to recycle glass, plastic, and aluminum containers in North Carolina, Downtown Raleigh Recycles is boosting outreach to bars and restaurants.

This includes adding a fourth recycling collection day to accommodate heavy weekend bar traffic, recycling workshops for bar/restaurant owners, and paid advertisements.

Ads in the Raleigh Downtowner, a free monthly publication that reaches about 50,000, are running over four months (see ad above) . "We're trying to brand the program, create awareness, and drive people to our web site," says Howard. "The ads are eye catching and definitely striking."

Ads were created from resources on partnership4recycing.org, a partnership of the Glass Packaging Institute, Land-of-Sky Regional Council, NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance, and U.S. EPA.

"We started with the 'people notice' ad from the Partnership4Recycling web site and customized it with the City's recycling logo, web site, and phone number," says Bianca Howard, Education Specialist for the City. This ad ran twice, and two more are planned using the 'message in a bottle' ad.

In January 2008, Downtown Raleigh Recycles, which began in 2006, collected 33 tons of recyclables (glass, corrugated, plastic, etc.), up from 22 tons in September 2007. "We seem to be in an upward trend," says Howard. "The amount of recyclables collected since September has gone up each month. This is mostly thanks to bars and restaurants coming on board."

The program is now up to 91 participating businesses, and of those 30 are ABC permit holders. "They are a small percentage of customers," says Howard, "but the majority of the glass is coming from them." About half were not recycling before the law took effect and now all but one participates.

The City collects trash and recyclables through this program for businesses without space for a dumpster. Businesses with a dumpster are serviced by private haulers. Downtown Raleigh Recycles participants pay a flat rate of $30—for up to six days a week of trash collection and four of recycling. Recycling containers are provided at no charge, but businesses have to buy garbage carts. "This is the only real economic incentive for a business to recycle in this program," says Howard.

Pinellas County, FL Considers Enhanced Curbside Recycling

Pinellas County officials are considering a $10-million curbside recycling plan for homes across the county. Funding will come from an estimated surplus of at least $10-million a year in the waste management budget beginning in 2009. GPI President Joe Cattaneo wrote a letter of support, emphasizing the positive impact an expanded residential curbside program would have and the need for glass to be a component. The Pinellas County Board of Directors will meet later in March and it is expected the recycling plan will be on the agenda.

Coke and NRC Offer Container Recycling Bin Grants

The National Recycling Coalition, with support from The Coca-Cola Company, again offers grants for bins in public settings to collect glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers for recycling.

The grant program is open to government, civic, school, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Grants are awarded to proposals likely to have the greatest impact on increasing beverage container recycling. Over 75 grants were awarded at the and of the Fall 2007 grant cycle. Deadline is April 4. Get the details

1000 WORDS

A Virtual Look: Chalk Artist Gives New Dimension to Glass

English street artist Julian Beever—whose chalk drawings are on pavements across the globe—creates mind-bending optical illusions with classic Coke and Slate 20 glass bottles. See him there on top of that bottle? Check it out

Copyright © 2007 Glass Packaging Institute 

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