Since 1997, communities across the country have come together on or around November 15th to celebrate America Recycles Day—the only nationally recognized day dedicated to getting Americans involved in local recycling initiatives and encouraging them to take personal responsibility to recycle. This year, the Glass Packaging Institute has joined Keep America Beautiful, Inc. as a partner in this event.

“America’s glass container manufacturers have been supporters of America Recycles Day from the beginning,” said Joseph J. Cattaneo, GPI President. “It’s another great opportunity to remind Americans about the value of recycling today and every day. Glass container manufacturers encourage Americans to recycle all materials, and especially glass, which can be recycled back into new glass bottles over and over again.“

If you haven’t already, take the America Recycles Day pledge. Start by recycling your glass bottles and jars today. Get the “Top Ten” reasons to recycle glass containers. Not sure where or how to recycle your glass? Visit earth911.com. Over 1,500 local events are planned this year. Read more about America Recycles day happenings.

Ohio Governor Announces Partnership to Increase Glass Recycling Market

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has announced an innovative agreement between Rumpke, Inc. and glass container manufacturer Owens-Illinois, Inc. to strengthen Ohio’s glass recycling market. Facilitated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ (ODNR) Division of Recycling and Litter Prevention, the agreement will enable Rumpke to provide recycled glass feedstock to O-I for making new glass containers.

Historically, glass recycling has been a challenge for some Ohio communities when it has not been economically feasible, or has not met the specifications of large users, such as O-I. This landmark agreement between these two Ohio businesses will begin to close the loop on glass recycling in the state.

“O-I has long sought to improve the sourcing of recycled glass from Ohio. Governor Strickland’s involvement was instrumental to the creation of this collaboration between O-I and Rumpke, which will bolster O-I’s Ohio glass container manufacturing operations,” said Ken Lovejoy, vice president of Environmental Health and Safety for O-I.

The agreement calls for O-I to provide technical assistance to Rumpke, which operates seven Ohio recycling facilities, in the development of a recycled glass treatment center which will provide up to 40,000 tons of glass annually. O-I agrees to purchase the majority of recycled glass cullet handled by Rumpke. Both businesses will work with ODNR to increase municipal glass recycling programs across Ohio.

“This demonstrates the first true collaborative effort with manufacturers, hauling companies, glass processors and recycling professionals working together for a common goal—to develop strategies to strengthen Ohio’s recycling markets,” said ODNR Director Sean Logan. More

PACKAGING TRENDS

Sphatika Switches to Glass in an Effort to Stay True to Its Organic Mission

Over the past year, cosmetics and health spa concern Sphatika International has switched many of its products from plastic to glass packaging in an effort to support its goal of offering completely organic products to its customers. The reaction of its clients has been overwhelmingly positive. Sphatika Founder Janet League-Katzin discusses the decision to switch to glass and how her company has benefited from the change. Listen to the podcast or read a transcript

Steaz Turns Heads with Stylish Glass Packaging during LA Fashion Week

Steaz, the nation's premier brand of organic and fair-trade beverages, was the “Official Tea” of Los Angeles Fashion Week. Steaz has been setting style trends of its own in recent years by using fully recyclable 12 oz. glass bottles for some of its leading products, including Steaz Sparkling Green Tea and Steaz Zero Calorie.

Last year, Steaz received two Best of 2009 awards from BevNET, the leading online community website for the beverage industry. Steaz was named Best New Organic Product of 2009 and Best New Carbonated Beverage of 2009. Both awards honored Steaz Zero Calorie Sparkling Green Teas. More

O-I’s Black Glass Makes an Impression in Asia-Pacific Market

Owens-Illinois, Inc. has launched “black glass” in the Asia-Pacific market following research from Ipsos Australia that indicated consumers in the region had a preference for the color. In particular, focus group participants thought that black glass communicated a strong visual impact and a premium appearance. Beer in black glass was seen as a “high-end beverage,” making it more likely to appear in exclusive bars and restaurants.

“Australian consumers often assess a product first and foremost on its appearance and, in an overcrowded market, black glass has enabled us to create unique, premium-looking products that will appeal to people looking for something fresh,” said Steve Williams, Marketing Director for Independent Distillers Australia, which began using black glass for its new Three Kings brand of beer, cider, and ready to drink products.

Manufactured in Sydney, O-I’s new black glass beer bottles are commercially available in one design and two closure finishes. The bottles are 100% recyclable and provide a number of functional benefits, including good light and UV protection. More

Clear Choice Award Winners Put on a Show at PACK EXPO

Winners of the 21st Annual Clear Choice Awards were featured in The Showcase of Packaging Innovations® at PACK EXPO International 2010 in Chicago. This year’s Clear Choice Awards recognized ten consumer product goods companies and their achievements in expanding the frontiers of glass packaging design. .

“The winning package designs demonstrate that glass continues to be the ‘clear choice’ for consumers who want a package that provides a premium feel and also protects the products they are buying,” said Joseph Cattaneo, president of the Glass Packaging Institute, which sponsors the Clear Choice Awards. “PACK EXPO provides the perfect venue to highlight and honor the creativity and innovation embodied by these winning designs.”

The Clear Choice Award Winners were featured on the cover of Package Design’s October 2010 issue, which was handed out throughout PACK EXPO. One of the themes for this year’s PACK EXPO was “food safety,” with glass products being prominently featured in many of the displays. More

LEGISLATION

Outcome of Mid-Term Elections Likely to Impact Energy Issues

Republican gains of at least 60 House seats, 6 Senate seats, and 20 state legislatures will bring leadership changes and oversight that are likely to impact energy policy as well as regulatory requirements beginning in January 2011.

Stationary source reporting requirements for glass and other energy intensive trade exposed industries are scheduled to start mid-year. Affected industries have legally challenged the EPA's authority to regulate these emissions via the Clean Air Act. A decision from the court is expected prior to regulations going into place. Incoming Republican leadership, including John Boehner (R-OH) who is expected to be elected House Speaker, has indicated that they will hold oversight and investigative hearings on federal agency action in this and other areas.

In California, a voter ballot measure Prop 23 that would have halted that state's cap and trade program until unemployment reached 5.5% was defeated by almost 20%. However, Prop 26, which requires a 2/3's vote by the state legislature to enact local and state fees passed. This may make it more difficult to continue funding for the state's global warming law, via the California Air Resources Board (CARB), as the fees passed onto businesses and industries must now reach this voting requirement. A recent draft of the cap and trade program, issued by CARB, would provide for free emissions credits to the glass container and several other industries in the state until 2020.

GLASS RECYCLING

SPC Project to Address Recycling Labels on Packaging Moves Ahead

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition, a project of the sustainability non-profit GreenBlue, has launched a “Labeling for Recovery Project” to address confusion and inconsistency around recycling messages and symbols on packaging. According to Anne Bedarf, Project Manager at SPC, “recovery-related messaging and iconography on packaging often give the erroneous impression that a package can be recycled everywhere.”

The SPC project intends to assist the packaging industry with a harmonized approach to meeting Federal Trade Commission guidelines, as well as an accurate understanding of the recyclability of packaging. “Our goals also include improving the transparency, reliability and completeness of recyclability claims, and to benchmark collection infrastructure,” says Bedarf.

The SPC has adopted the model of the OPRL U.K., a partnership between the British Retail Consortium and the government-supported organization WRAP. This voluntary label includes the material type as well as the current level of recyclability. Recyclability is calculated by merging current “access to recovery” data as well as working with manufacturers to collect data not yet available. For a package to meet FTC’s “widely recycled” designation, 60% of consumers must have access to recycle that material. The proposed label also includes the mobius loop.

A nationwide pilot test of the proposed labeling system design, working with interested Brand Owners and Retailers, is planned for early 2011. “We continue to outreach to government, materials-related trade organizations, and the local recycling community as well,” says Bedarf. More

SERDC Unveils Interactive Map of Manufacturer Demand for Recycled Materials

The Southeast Recycling Development Council has concluded a two-year study documenting the heavy regional presence of manufacturers that depend on post-consumer recycled glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, and steel to make consumer and industrial products.

According to the study, more than 206 key industrial facilities across the Southeast depend on recycled feedstocks that flow from community and commercial recycling efforts. These companies collectively employ more than 47,525 persons and see a sales volume exceeding $29.4 billion per year. This includes 16 glass container and other manufacturers that use recycled glass for new glass bottles and other products. Check out the interactive database

U.S. EPA Organizes Stakeholders Around Financing U.S. Recycling Programs

According to Resource Recycling, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has asked 27 local and state government managers and packaging industry executives to hold multi-stakeholder discussion on the sustainable financing of municipal recycling of packaging materials. The first meeting was in September.

The group will focus on determining the opportunities and challenges of the 9,000-plus local recycling programs. The goal is to develop a detailed action plan that is state-based but nationally coordinated. Specifically, task force members will look at the potential opportunity for an extended producer responsibility financing system under which brand owners would finance local recycling efforts. More

California Schools Hold Recycling Competition

Keep California Beautiful is managing a friendly competition during the month of November among Golden state schools to see which can reduce waste and recycle the most. The California Recycling Challenge is also a benchmarking tool for K-12 school recycling programs. The winning school receives awards totaling $5,000.

Six categories of recyclables are included: glass and other beverage containers, paper, cardboard, mixed recyclables, food scraps, and Expanded Polystyrene Foam. California has over 9,950 public schools in over 1,000 districts serving 6.3 million students. Keep America Beautiful is funding the contest, and hopes to launch similar programs across the country.

1000 WORDS

Recycle Across America Takes On Standardizing Recycling Bin Signage

Recycle Across America, whose members include individuals, companies and organizations, is a non-profit dedicated to delivering solutions that make recycling more simple. Their latest initiative is tackling inconsistent signage on recycling bins, which they say creates confusion and more contamination. They proposed a standardized labeling initiative in 2009 and following a positive response and adoption by national industry leaders, the concept is being introduced with a 60-second video. Watch the video and tell them what you think.