The “Modern Vintage” marketing trend has taken a hold on consumer products, including foods and beverages. Spurred on by the success of AMC’s Mad Men, vintage styles on the fashion runways of Manhattan and Milan, and the return of the classic Ford Mustang Cobra, modern vintage takes a classic idea and gives it a modern twist.

The trend has also spurred a notable return to glass bottle for many classic products for the summer of 2011, including Heinz Ketchup, Orange Crush, Coca-Cola, and Hershey’s Hot Fudge Topping.

“We’re pleased to see major brands revisiting glass this summer as a way to appeal to their customers,” says Lynn Bragg, GPI President. “Consumers obviously know the benefits of glass for maintaining the quality, purity, and taste of products. We’re hopeful these companies will continue offering their products in glass for the foreseeable future.”

One standout is Heinz Ketchup, which is bringing back its 14-ounce glass bottles to store shelves, including Wal-Mart and Safeway, for the first time in 10 years.

“In response to consumer demand and to inspire memories of and relive good times from summers past, we wanted to bring back the glass bottle with a limited edition design that gives a nod to the product’s 135-year history,” says Noel Geoffroy, Vice President of Heinz Brands, of the O-I produced bottle. More

Virginia Tech Targets Glass Bottles for Expanded Packaging Program

As part of an effort to expand Virginia Tech’s packaging program, professors there toured O-I’s Winston-Salem, NC glass manufacturing plant and the nearby Miller Brewery in Eden, NC, where the amber glass bottles go for filling.

“It’s exciting that an expanded packaging curriculum is underway at Virginia Tech,” says Rick Bayer, GPI’s Academic Subcommittee Chair. “These tours are the start of building an understanding of glass packaging and a relationship with the school.”

“We learned a lot, and hope to take our students in the fall to the same two facilities,” says Virginia Tech Professor Robert Bush from his Blacksburg, VA campus. “We want to expose them to glass, and get them excited to perhaps do an internship in the industry.”

To build a comprehensive packaging program, Virginia Tech has hired two new faculty, is offering several new courses, and has proposed a packaging degree. “We’re really pleased with the level of enthusiasm for what we are trying to do from the glass industry,” says Bush. Also in the works is a lab for teaching and research, which will include glass containers. More

O-I Launches Glass is Life™ Global Campaign

Glass container manufacturer Owens-Illinois, Inc., has kicked off Glass Is Life™, a global marketing campaign designed to showcase the unique and unmatched qualities of glass packaging to build successful food and beverage brands.

“O-I’s extensive research shows a strong demand for glass among consumers, but the marketplace does not adequately reflect this interest. We aim to influence the food and beverage industry’s packaging decisions by showing the power of glass,” said Al Stroucken, Chairman and CEO of O-I.

CEOs, brand managers, environmentalists, designers, parents and others have rallied behind the campaign to share their passion for glass. These voices include environmentalist Celine Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau (photo above).

O-I’s Glass Is Life™ advertisements launch this month in 12 countries and seven languages. To view videos and images, or to join the glass conversation on Facebook and Twitter, visit www.GlassIsLife.com. More

PACKAGING TRENDS

July Deadline for 2011 Clear Choice Award

July 9th is the deadline to enter the Glass Packaging Institute’s 2011 Clear Choice Awards, which recognizes the contribution glass packaging makes to the image, marketability, sustainability and success of food, beverage, and cosmetic products.

"Glass is a versatile, 'green' and exciting packaging material," said Lynn Bragg, GPI President. "The Clear Choice Awards allows us to recognize the innovation that is taking place within the industry and highlight the incomparable style and beauty of glass packaging."

Clear Choice Awards winners will be announced on the GPI website the week of September 11, 2011 through a virtual event. All entries must be postmarked by Saturday, July 9, 2011. Get entry details

The Wine Group and O-I Receive Wal-Mart Sustainability Recognition

At the sixth Annual Walmart and Sam’s Club Sustainable Packaging Expo held in Rogers, Arkansas, The Wine Group was honored for "Excellence in Sustainability" for using O-I’s Lean+Green® wine bottle for their Oak Leaf brand. After collecting more than 30 nominations from Walmart/Sam's Club buyers, a panel of sustainability and packaging experts narrowed the field to 10 finalists before senior Walmart executives chose to honor The Wine Group and O-I.

The current Wine Group glass package has a 27.3% reduction in weight (from 16.0 oz. to 11.64 oz.), 25% recycled content, and a 6.7% savings to customers. The new glass bottle reduces total carbon footprint, uses less raw material, and reduces overall weight of product and case. According to O-I, the difference between the old and new Oak Leaf bottle includes a measurable reduction in carbon footprint as well as a $0.20 savings for the end consumer.

LEGISLATION

Oregon Container Deposit Expansion Signed into Law

Last week, Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed legislation that expands the state's container deposit law to include non-carbonated beverages, such as teas, juices, and sports drinks. At the bill signing ceremony, the Governor said, "By making more of these containers eligible for redemption, we're going to have a significant impact not just on our roadways and in our landfills but also increase our recycling rate." More

Soda Ash Companion Legislation Introduced in Senate

Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) have introduced legislation to extend the reduced royalty rate of 2% for soda ash production. This legislation mirrors that introduced by Representatives Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and David Wu (D-OR), which would extend the current royalty rate of 2% paid by soda ash companies until 2016. Without passing this legislation, the rate would automatically increase to 6% on October 12, 2011. The U.S. produces the vast majority of the world's naturally soda ash in Wyoming, with almost all of the soda ash exported going through ports in Oregon. This legislation would also help U.S. soda ash companies remain competitive worldwide.

GLASS RECYCLING

Survey Finds Majority of Restaurants Recycle

A new survey finds that 65% of restaurateurs have recycling programs, and another 19% of full service operators plan to start one in the next year. Most programs (74%) are “back of house.” The survey of 500 restaurant owners—full service and quick—and 1,100 consumers was conducted in March and April by the National Restaurant Association through an unrestricted research grant from Georgia-Pacific Professional. Download survey

While restaurateurs are recycling a variety of materials, 68% of full service restaurants and 52% of quick service recycle glass bottles. The median number of total hours spent per establishment by staff to maintain the recycling program, including employee training, in-house collection, and maintenance, is two hours/week.

According to the survey, 60% of consumers patronize restaurants with recycling programs and 51% are willing to pay a little more at a restaurant with a recycling program. And 28% of full service operators indicated that their recycling efforts have a positive impact on restaurant’s sales. Another 45% believe that customers are likely to prefer and be more loyal to restaurants with recycling programs. More

Partnership in Kansas Closes the Loop on Glass Bottle Recycling

Following a 2009 study showing Kansas City, MO was throwing 150 million pounds of recyclable glass in the landfill, local Boulevard Brewing helped to form glass recycling company Ripple Glass. Ripple constructed a state-of-the-art processing plant, and placed dedicated glass recycling containers throughout the metro area. They are now on track to provide a closed-loop beer bottle source with local glass bottle manufacturer Verallia.

After recycled glass is processed at Ripple, it’s sold to Verallia which makes an ECO Series beer bottle using an average of 29% recycled glass. Verallia expects to purchase 2,000 tons of recycled glass from Ripple in 2011, with more as glass recycling increases. Many of the bottles are then sold back to Boulevard Brewing. "It's a great way to close the loop, protect the environment, and even save money on the manufacturing of future glass beer bottles," says Jeff Krum, Boulevard CFO. "We are glad to be working alongside Verallia in this effort." More

Watch Ripple’s new ad

Ohio DNR Releases Glass Recycling Study

According to a study commissioned by the Ohio Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention and conducted by DSM Environmental, Ohio manufacturers currently use about 110,000 tons of recycled glass annually from Ohio and surrounding states, yet their need is greater—roughly 275,000–295,000 tons/year. Ohio has five manufacturing facilities for container glass, fiberglass, and reflective coatings, as well as four glass processing facilities to supply the manufacturing plants.

The study results indicate that Ohio has a huge capacity for glass recovery. Roughly 90% of all glass containers consumed in Ohio are disposed of in landfills as opposed to recycled. Study results showed that combining expanded curbside (68,000 new tons glass) and drop‐off programs (14,400 tons) with recycling for bars and restaurants (53,000 new tons) could eventually meet roughly 73% to 82% of future demand. Deposit legislation for glass bottles could recover an estimated 239,000 tons of glass. The study also looks at costs and estimated participation rates. Download the study

1000 WORDS

Time to “Ask for Glass”

In case you missed it, GPI kicked off "Ask for Glass," a social media campaign to give consumers a greater voice in asking that their favorite brands be offered in glass. Let your voice be heard. Visit “Ask for Glass” on Facebook and Twitter. And share this YouTube video with family and friends