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." More

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. More

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. More

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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