The Glass Packaging Institute named the winners of its 2008 Clear Choice Awards during a presentation and reception at the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on May 5, 2008.

This year’s Awards recognized twelve consumer product goods companies for their achievements in expanding the frontiers of glass packaging design. Also honored was the Orange Community Recycling Division of the Orange County Solid Waste Management Department with GPI’s Recognition for Outstanding Sustainable Practices.

 “These winners prove that designing and using glass packaging for your brand provides customers with what they really want—a ‘pure,’ ‘premium’ and ‘sustainable’ product,” says GPI President Joseph Cattaneo.

The 13 Clear Choice Awards winners are Miller Brewing Company; White Wine Rocket Company; Truco Enterprises, LP; Q Tonic; XanGo, LLC; Phillips Distilling Company; Sake2me, LLC; M.A. Gedney Company; Tizane Beverages; Avon Products, Inc.; Cadbury Schweppes Beverages Americas; Red Gold, Inc.; and the Orange County Solid Waste Management Department for Orange Community Recycling. More

Get photos of the winners, or see them receive their award on YouTube.

GPI Releases Poll Results at FTC “Green Guides” Workshop

According to a new poll of 1,000 Americans, a majority (54%) consider a package “recyclable” if it can be recycled back to its original use "an unlimited number of times."

Poll results were released by GPI during the Federal Trade Commission's "Green Guides and Packaging" workshop on April 30th. The FTC is revisiting its environmental marketing guidelines, which outline general principles for environmental marketing claims, including recyclability and recycled content.

"We believe these poll results show that Americans want stringent guidelines for recycling and do not want those standards to be 'watered down'," said Joe Cattaneo, GPI President. "In recent years there have been efforts within the packaging industry to change the definition of the term 'recyclable' to include materials that are really 'downcycled,' changed from one form into another. It is important that the FTC understand that most Americans know the difference and don't want to see the standards loosened further."

The poll, conducted April 18 – 21 by Opinion Research for GPI, also found that only 41% of respondents believe a package is "recyclable" if it can be repackaged from one form into another, eventually ending up in a landfill.

In addition, more than three out of four adults (77%) believe that more than 50% of a package should be able to be reprocessed to its original form to be considered "recyclable." Overall, a full one-third (33%) thought that 100% of a package should be able to be reprocessed to its original form to be considered "recyclable."

Chicago Museum Features “The Glass Experience”

The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL is now hosting “The Glass Experience”. This exhibit comes at a time when there is growing interest in glass packaging, which is 100% recyclable, safe, and pure.

The interactive exhibit uncovers the craftsmanship and beauty of glass and glassmaking. Visitors learn how the art, science, and technology of glass influence our culture, lifestyle, and economy, while seeing some of the amazing art that glass helps to create.

O-I contributed molds and coordinating containers as well as historical glass artifacts to represent the glass packaging segment of The Glass Experience. Visit through September 1, 2008. Get information.

GPI Hosts Chinese Glass Industry Delegation

GPI hosted a delegation of Chinese business leaders in Washington, DC and presented information about U.S. glass markets, association activities, and glass container trends. The delegation also toured O-I’s glass manufacturing plant in Los Angeles, CA.

The visit was organized by the China National Light Industry Council to better understand U.S. glass markets and explore business opportunities. The Council includes member companies that make glass containers as well as other glass products.

In an effort to continue building a long-term relationship, the Council has invited GPI to participate in their International Glass Conference in Shanghai in April of 2009.

PACKAGING TRENDS

O-I Restarts Glass Baby Bottle Production

O-I will start making glass baby bottles for the first time in two decades to meet a swelling demand as concerns grow about health impacts of alternative bottle materials. Glass is trusted among consumers and has proven safe for over 400 years.
 
"Preferences for pure packaging are leading many consumers to turn to glass because of its inert characteristics and ability to maintain the purity and taste of products,” said Joseph Cattaneo, GPI President. “Glass is a proven pure and safe material for human health.”
 
According to a Rochester, NY WHAM television report, “Major retail chains are reporting current sales of glass bottles are more than five times what they were a year ago, and several major plastic baby bottle manufacturers are coming out with glass products to meet the demand.”

LEGISLATION

Florida Recycling Legislation Heads to Governor’s Office

State legislation in Florida encouraging and mandating recycling passed both chambers and has gone to Governor Charlie Crist (R) for his consideration. Governor Crist has indicated that he is supportive of the bill. This legislation would establish a state municipal recycling program, which all counties would be required to abide by. It also sets a 75% recycling goal for the state by 2020. Materials sent to waste to energy facilities would qualify towards that goal. Additionally, all counties would be required to collect at least four types of recyclables and develop an organics recycling program by the year 2010.

Prince Edward Island Lifts Can Ban

Environment Minister George Webster recently lifted a ban on non-refillable pop containers in Prince Edward Island (PEI), which had been in place since 1973. Soft drink industry officials cited additional costs related to transporting the glass containers and had advocated for the ability to use lighter, aluminum cans in the province. Sharon Labchuk, leader of the PEI’s Green Party criticized the move, noting that the aluminum cans are made from expensive metal, mined from bauxite, and the enormous amount of energy need to extract the material.

NY Congressman Wants to Set Clean Air Act Grant Priorities

Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) has introduced legislation (H.R. 5859) that would give Clean Air Act grant priorities to those states with consumer deposit laws in place. New York would be eligible for this priority status should the legislation be signed into law. At present, there is no companion legislation in the Senate. 

GLASS RECYCLING

NC County Commercial Recycling Program Gets Recognized

Orange Community Recycling, a division of North Carolina’s Orange County Solid Waste Management Department, was recognized by the GPI Clear Choice Awards for “Outstanding Sustainable Practices.”

This distinction is a result of Orange County’s commercial recycling program, which now serves over 140 businesses with source-separated collection of glass bottles and jars, metal cans, plastic bottles, and mixed paper.

 “It’s through the hard work of those businesses, the employees of those businesses, and the employees of the recycling program that Orange County’s recycling programs are a success,” said Robert Taylor, Recycling Programs Manager, Orange Community Recycling Division of the Orange County Solid Waste Management Department, who accepted the award. In operation since 1992, the program collects over 640 tons annually, about 400 of which are glass.

Program services provided by Orange County include a set of 95 gallon roll-off carts at each site, bi-lingual labels with pictures, regular collection, which is mostly weekly, education and outreach, periodic public recognition of program participants in targeted print advertisements, articles, community presentations and an annual letter to each participant. The program is financed primarily through the County’s universal recycling fee charged to all improved properties.

Many participants use shared sites that present their own challenges with anonymous contamination. Feedback to the participants via the collectors through management staff is continuous and the program continues to expand to meet community demands and the new North Carolina state law mandating that all those establishments holding liquor licenses must recycle their beverage containers.

San Francisco Recycling Rate Reaches 70%

The highest recycling rate in the nation is now San Francisco at 70%. Recycling includes recycling, composting, and re-use. Mayor Gavin Newsome has proposed legislation that would require all landlords to provide adequate recycling and composting for their tenants in the city’s attempt to reach an overall recycling rate of 75% by 2010. To achieve this goal, the Mayor has indicated a possible ban on materials from landfill transfer stations that would otherwise be accepted in recycling and composting programs.

1000 WORDS

Glass Bottles Create the Beat in Music Video

Glass bottles get the spotlight in this music video. They produce much of the sound, keep the beat, and make a political statement. Check it out

Copyright © 2008 Glass Packaging Institute 

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