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Residents across America rallied behind glass bottle recycling during the 2010 Race Across America ultra-endurance cycling event, June 9th-June 21st. GPI’s Recycle Glass Week sponsored five time stations during the event, where more than 4,000 people came out to show their support for local recycling programs, learned about the powerful environmental and energy saving benefits of recycling glass bottles and jars, and picked up some “green” giveaways provided by Recycle Glass Week and glass manufacturing companies. Check out the highlights:
Oceanside, California:
 Team racers started the competition in Oceanside on June 12th where GPI’s Recycle Glass Week and Oceanside Recycles! representatives Colleen Foster and Jessica Moen greeted 3,000 racers, fans, and residents with “green” giveaways (including organic t-shirts, glass water bottles, reusable backpacks, and more), provided local recycling information, and collected glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers (courtesy of Solid Waste & Recycling Oceanside). A local non-profit, Outside the Bowl, collected deposit proceeds from the recyclables. Little Bottle was also there to help send cyclists on their way from Oceanside to Annapolis. A big thanks to all the Oceanside folks!
Durango, Colorado:
GPI’s Recycle Glass Week hosted a booth with the Four Corners Recycling Initiative’s Ashton Hargrave to deliver local recycling information and giveaways to community residents on June 12th. Over 200 people turned out to support local recycling efforts and recycle their glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers. Recycling collection and pick-up was provided by the City of Durango. Thank you Durango!
Bloomington, Indiana:
Anchor Glass, Saint-Gobain Containers, and GPI representatives greeted about 200 racers, fans, and residents with “green” giveaways (including organic t-shirts, glass water bottles, reusable backpacks, and more) and collected glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers on June 17th. The City of Bloomington provided and picked up the bins for beverage container recycling. Monroe County Waste Management District’s Elisa Pokral was there to encourage local recycling. Thank you Bloomington!
Oxford, Ohio:
 Glass container manufacturers and suppliers from Anchor Glass, O-I, Saint-Gobain Containers, and Spear showed strong support in Oxford for bottle-to-bottle recycling on June 18th. GPI’s Recycle Glass Week handed out prizes to residents who recycled their glass, plastic, and aluminum beverage containers. Dave Treleaven with the City of Oxford provided recycling information to the local community. The Butler County Solid Waste District and the City of Oxford provided and collected bins for recyclables. Thank you Oxford!
Annapolis, Maryland:
GPI’s Recycle Glass Week and Leone Industries representatives were in Annapolis on June 19th to witness 10 teams of cyclists cross the finish line! Nearly 500 people showed up for the race finish and to show their support for recycling. We handed out prizes, including barbecue spices in glass jars, to community residents who pledged to recycle their glass containers. Little Bottle also made an appearance to greet recyclers and team cyclists as they finished their 3,000+-mile journey from Oceanside to Annapolis. Congratulations 2010 Race Across America cyclists!
Get all the details and see more photos
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Join the Recycle Glass Week e-hunt, Win an iPod
Chance to Win Prizes during Recycle Glass Week, September 12-18
 GPI has launched the “Recycle Glass Week e-hunt”, a virtual scavenger hunt to educate consumers about the value of glass bottle recycling. Little Bottle, an animated character created by Saint-Gobain Containers, will guide recycling enthusiasts, glass lovers, and green people everywhere through this easy online search for a chance to win iPod shuffles, t-shirts, cash, and more. Check out participant tweets about recycling glass
“We hope the recycle e-hunt proves a fun way to educate about the environmental benefits of glass container recycling, and that it will encourage people to recycle more glass bottles and jars,” says GPI president Joseph Cattaneo. “Recycling glass saves energy, reduces use of raw materials, and lessens CO2 emissions. Recycling your glass containers will help glass container manufacturers to meet the goal to use 50 percent recycled glass in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013.”
GPI has partnered with Earth911.com, O-I, Race Across America, and Saint-Gobain Containers to host recycle e-hunt clues. GPI will announce recycle e-hunt prize winners during GPI’s second annual Recycle Glass Week, September 12-18. Start the e-hunt now
Less than Three Weeks Left to Enter the 2010 Clear Choice Awards
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) celebrates the 21st year of the Clear Choice Awards, which recognizes the contribution glass packaging makes to the image, marketability, sustainability and success of food, beverage and cosmetic products. Clear Choice Awards winners will be announced on the GPI website the week of September 12, during GPI’s Recycle Glass Week.
GPI will be awarding top package designs in the following categories: Beer; Wine; Food; Carbonated Beverage; Non-Carbonated Beverage; Distilled Spirits; Flavored Alcoholic Beverage; Organic Food or Beverage; and Fragrance/Cosmetics/Other. GPI will also choose one package design to receive the Clear Choice Award for Overall Package Design, and honor eligible entries with GPI’s Conversion Recognition.
Enter the 2010 Clear Choice Awards. There is no fee to enter. All entries must be postmarked by Saturday, July 10, 2010. All 2010 Clear Choice Awards winners will receive an award and benefit from industry-wide recognition and brand building media coverage.
PACKAGING TRENDS
ZORK Wine Closures Meet Approval from U.S. Wineries
 ZORK wine closures were introduced in the U.S. market in 2008, and since then, have won over dozens of wineries with their wine-protection benefits, practical features, and eco-friendly attributes. Currently the ZORK closures are being used solely for glass bottle closure applications. According to ZORK USA’s Director of Sales, Mario Carofanello, “I’m seeing a significant shift recently in the industry’s acceptance of ZORK…wineries are looking at alternative ways to attract, engage, and retain consumers.”
‘The Other Guys’ division, part of the Don Sebastiani Family of Companies, has chosen to use the ZORK closure for its wine. "ZORK adds the ease of use of a screw cap with added sophistication," says August Sebastiani, president, The Other Guys. "On-premise, our 'Zorked' wines have been a hit, as bars reuse the closures with other by-the-glass wines."
Jim Knapp, Communications Director for ‘The Other Guys’ line, reports a steady increase in sales of all the labels that use the ZORK closure, attributing much of the line’s popularity to ZORK’s protection of the wine, its convenience, and its resealability and reusability. “We’ve found ZORK to be widely accepted by consumers, retailers, bartenders, and sommeliers,” says Knapp.
The ZORK low-density, linear polyethylene closure consists of three components: an outer, tamper-evident cap, an inner foil oxygen barrier, and a plunger that “pops” like a cork when extracted and is easily reinserted. Winery labels can be applied to the ZORK closure and vintners can choose from an endless variety of colors to meet their branding needs. The closure is currently being sold worldwide and won accolades in 2008 and 2009 from the Australian Wine Council. Watch the video of how Zork works
Taylors Wine Achieves 100% Carbon Neutral Rating with help from O-I’s Lean + Green® Lightweight Glass Bottles
 Taylors Wines announced the company’s Eighty Acres range of wines has certified 100% carbon neutral, a world-first for any wine brand or range. To help reduce emissions, Taylors moved the Eighty Acres range into O-I’s new Lean + Green® lightweight glass bottles. This new glass bottle is almost 40% lighter than the original glass used and delivers a reduction in CO²e per bottle of more than 15%.
“The clearly communicated environmental credentials of the O-I's Lean+Green® product offering fit perfectly with our commitment, since September 2009, to launch the world's first 100% carbon neutral wine range,” said Jonathan Lord, Brand Manager at Taylors Wines.
Taylors Wines worked with Provisor, a consultant specializing in the Wine, Food and Beverage industries, to develop a Life Cycle Assessment model to accurately measure the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions at every step in the life cycle of the Taylors Eighty Acres range of wines. That begins in the vineyard before harvesting and ultimately ends with the consumption and recycling of the finished packaging—a complete cradle to the grave approach.
Mitchell Taylor, CEO of Taylors Wines said he was excited by this achievement but recognizes there are more initiatives that can be taken on the road to environmental sustainability. According to Taylor, “Our direct link with the land, along with the long-term view we hold for our business, means we acknowledge the responsibility we have in protecting our environment both for the present and future generations. As a family owned winey we are committed to reducing our impact upon the environment.” More
LEGISLATION
Sen. Murkowski GHG Resolution Fails in Senate
Senate Joint Resolution 26, introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) failed a vote on the Senate floor, 47-53. SJR 26 would have prohibited the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the ‘endangerment finding’ that these emissions contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare.
All Senate Republicans voted for the measure, with six Democrats joining them—Mark Pryor (AR), Evan Bayh (IN), Ben Nelson (NE), Jay Rockefeller (WV), Blanche Lincoln (AR) and Mary Landrieu (LA).
There is a possibility that a compromise resolution, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) will be scheduled for a vote later this summer. Sen. Rockefeller’s resolution would delay EPA agency action for a period of two years. Indications are that this compromise measure may draw additional Democratic support.
GLASS RECYCLING
New Mexico Recycling Coalition Receives Nearly $2.8 Million in Federal Stimulus Funds for Recycling
The Department of Energy has awarded $2.79 million to the New Mexico Recycling Coalition (NMRC) as part of a national effort to support energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. The Rural Recycling Development grant, which was awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will support the NMRC’s efforts to promote recycling across the state.
New Mexico’s recycling system faces many challenges including a lack of infrastructure, low population densities, low-income and the rural nature of the state, resulting in a recycling rate of 12.4% as compared to the national average of 33%.
"This far-reaching program aims to build upon several years of strategic planning to assist underserved and rural communities develop their recycling programs so that they are sustainable, readily expandable and can ultimately provide opportunities to recycle for all New Mexicans. I believe this project will change the face of recycling in New Mexico," says English Bird, NMRC Executive Director.
Funds will be used for launch of a statewide recycled materials marketing cooperative, strategic placement of recycling equipment infrastructure using a “hub and spoke” model, and education and assistance to targeted communities for Pay-As-You-Throw as a tool to incentivize source reduction and waste diversion activities. More
1000 WORDS
Little Bottle and Friends Show Support for Recycling and Cycling
Little Bottle cheered on Race Across America team cyclists in Oceanside, California, as racers started their journey, and again at the finale of the race in Annapolis, Maryland. More than 4,000 people came out to show their support for local recycling programs and glass bottle recycling in five cities along the race. Check out the video
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Brands choose glass for premium product introductions. 
The GPI’s Standard Edition X FLEXO Color Guide for printing inks on corrugated is now available for purchase on the 
FEVE, the European Container Glass Federation, announced it has published on its web site the FEVE Life Cycle Inventory for glass containers. This is a cradle-to-cradle life cycle inventory, excluding the reuse phase. The inventory is designed for customers, brand owners, retailers, and any stakeholder interested in building a Life Cycle Analysis for a food or beverage product packaged in glass bottles. Go to 
The May 2010 issue of Food & Beverage Packaging features the article “Glass Packaging Presents Clear-Cut Solutions.” According to the magazine, through changing markets and technical innovations, glass packaging remains a timeless choice for foods and beverages. 
Stella Artois has unveiled a new lightweight glass bottle with a limited edition label as part of an initiative to improve its environmental performance. The company has reduced the weight of its 284 mL bottle by 7%, which will amount to considerable energy savings. A limited-edition label has been created for the new packs and the launch will be supported by an on-pack promotion, asking: “Is Jeannie in Your Lightweight Bottle?” 
Vitro participated in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the National Chamber for the Tequila Industry by designing and supplying the commemorative 750 mL bottle. The bottle was presented to the attendees at the gala dinner where awards were given to ex-presidents of the association. 
GPI is giving away an iPod Shuffle to our 1000th Twitter follower. Join in and send us a “tweet.” Follow now