An elegant tear-drop shaped bottle for olive oil (at left) took first place in GPI’s Glass Packaging Design Competition held fall semester 2009 at Michigan State University School of Packaging.

The winning 12-ounce glass package was created by the team of Mike Rowe and Zack Werner, beating out 32 other MSU student teams. “My idea about glass has changed not only from our design, but from seeing the other innovative ideas,” says Zach Werner.

“The winning design makes excellent use of the material characteristics and design flexibility of glass containers. "Good use of shape and color produces a great shelf impact," says Dennis Young, MSU Instructor. The competition is part of Young’s Glass and Metal Packaging course. “We had an excellent quality of projects from all the teams of students,” says Young.

The winning design is a spherical body with a gradual sloping neck and a bulky base for overall support. “The form is based on an Old Italian wine bottle shape, with a rustic paper label,” says Mike Rowe. The amber color reduces the amount of sunlight entering the bottle, and the flint lower half provides a “window” so consumers can view the product.

Evian Natural Spring Water has partnered with brilliant British fashion designer Sir Paul Smith on a new limited edition 750 mL glass bottle. The glass bottle is manufactured by Owens-Illinois and is decorated by Saga Décor (a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Emballage). According to Smith, “It is a nice glass bottle with colourful stripes around the top, printed with organic ink!”

Smith’s design is the third in a series of designer bottles for Evian’s latest youth-oriented ad campaign, “Live Young,” following one by Christian Lacroix in 2008 and last year's model by Jean Paul Gaultier. The bottle comes with five different collectible caps, and is available online at www.ShopEvian.com as well as in fine restaurants, hotels, concept stores, and wellness centers in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Miami in the U.S.

Watch Paul Smith’s video for Evian

The North American glass container industry worked diligently in 2009 to create more recycling awareness and improve recycled glass collection for bottle-to-bottle recycling, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use of raw materials, extend the life of glass manufacturing furnaces, save energy, and meet the industry’s 50% recycled content goal by 2013. In the U.S., there are 50 glass container manufacturing plants and 74 facilities that process glass for recycling.

Doubling the U.S. glass container recycling rate (28% in 2008) would allow manufacturers to use 50% recycled glass or “cullet” to make new glass containers, saving enough energy to power 21,978 homes for one year and removing 181,550 tons of waste from landfills every month.

The goal of using 50% cullet in the manufacture of new glass containers by 2013 was the impetus behind the Glass Packaging Institute’s 2009 Recycle Glass Week. More than 50 educational activities and public events in 22 states brought in over 20 tons of glass for bottle-to-bottle recycling, built awareness about the environmental benefits of recycling glass containers, and led to permanent collection locations for glass bottles and jars in Colorado and Indiana.

In 2010, the glass container industry will intensify its efforts to make U.S. glass container recycling successful. This includes helping to improve curbside recycling programs, expand drop-off collection, initiate more on-premise recycling, and build on state bottle deposit programs.

Get details on the 2010 outlook for glass containers:

Unity of Glass Container Manufacturers in U.S. Grows Stronger

Making a Difference through Packaging Choices

Less is More, and What’s Old is New Again

Closing the Loop Attracts Green-Conscious Consumers

More Americans Recycling, But Higher Quality Cullet Requires Partnerships and Innovation

Climate Change Legislation Takes Center Stage

New and Expanded Container Deposit Legislation Pushes Forward

The monthly container categories to be reported out are as follows; beer, beverages (non-alcoholic), food, liquor, ready-to-drink alcoholic coolers and cocktails, wine and “other” (pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, medicinal, industrial)

Data from the vast majority of the U.S. glass container manufacturing industry will be included in the reports. To ensure an accurate year-to-year comparison picture for subscribers, Minimax Consulting, LLC has also collected 2008 data from each of the companies currently reporting and will collectively issue both sets of data.

Import/Export glass container data will also included in the monthly report, beginning with the prior month. GPI will try to issue data to subscribers no later than the 25th of the following month.

Glass Container Shipment Report Pricing

• Monthly Subscription: $100 per month
• 12 Month Subscription: $1,000 ($200 savings)

Please note - information may not be redistributed without the consent of the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI).

If you are interested in purchasing this data, please contact Monique Montoya, at mmontoya@talley.com, or 703/684-6359.

Joe Cattaneo

President

Increasingly available in grocery stores and through traditional milkman delivery services, farm-fresh milk in glass bottles is making its way back into homes across the U.S. Several dairies, highlighted below, have introduced or reintroduced glass bottles for milk and other dairy products to meet consumer demand and environmental objectives.

“Packaging milk in glass is an American tradition and a decision that is proven to be healthy for you and the environment,” says Joseph Cattaneo, GPI president. “Glass is 100% pure, which protects the ‘farm-fresh’ taste of milk, and is 100% recyclable and reusable.”

In fact, researchers report a trend toward glass packaging as the first choice of consumers who say they care about the environment and their individual and family health*. Nearly 60% of consumers believe glass packaging is “best suited to a healthy lifestyle.” And while 83.1% of consumers think plastic containers have added chemicals, only 11.9% think glass does. And dairies are responding.

Traders Point Creamery, located in Zionsville, Indiana, packages its whole milk, chocolate milk, and yogurt in glass bottles. The company’s 100% grass-fed, certified organic Brown Swiss cows produce non-homogenized milk that is high in essential vitamins and minerals, and the European-style yogurt has been voted “America’s Best” by the American Cheese Society for the last two years. Traders Point Creamery is a strong believer in glass—it gives the consumer a pure product in an easily recycled package.

Saint-Gobain Containers, a leading producer of glass containers for the U.S. food and beverage industries, recently launched its second feature animation, “Becoming a Glass Super Agent,” targeted for elementary school-aged children.

In the new animation, Captain Cullet, a robot who crushes glass into cullet, and his sidekick, Little Gob o’ Glass, a drop of hot molten glass, focus on the science of making glass as they give students a tour of a working glass bottle factory.

In “The Original Adventure,” Captain Cullet and Little Gob detail the history of glass and educate on the importance of choosing a healthy and safe package for food and beverages. Both animations describe the benefits of glass and the need to recycle glass for a greener environment. The videos and downloadable files are free and available online. Check out the videos

GPI sat down to speak with Cheri Chastain, Sustainability Coordinator at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., recipient of the Glass Packaging Institute’s “Friend of Glass” recognition and Food & Engineering magazine’s “Sustainable Plant of the Year” award. Chastain gives us “a look inside” the brewing company’s myriad of sustainability initiatives, including why Sierra Nevada chooses glass for its line of specialty and craft beers and the company’s dedication to recycling their bottles and other materials. Listen to the podcast or Read the Transcript

The 2009 Glass Packaging Institute’s Clear Choice Awards winning products were displayed (see photo at right) along with 200 other award-winning packages at Pack EXPO Las Vegas from October 5-7 in the "Showcase of Packaging Innovations." The Clear Choice Awards winners will travel to the Worldwide Food Expo at the McCormick Center in Chicago, IL, for exhibition at the GPI booth from October 28-31. Don’t miss out. Be sure to stop by for an in-person look. Get a sneak peak now.

The European Container Glass Federation, FEVE, opened the first ever “Friends of Glass” shop in conjunction with their September 23rd Choose Glass Week events.

The Brussels shop displays a huge variety of products packaged in glass. Doors were opened with a press conference featuring Friends of Glass spokespersons, celebrities, and members of the glass industry.

Jill Peeters, TV presenter and winner of the C3 Climate Change Communication Award 2009, and Bernard Tirtiaux, writer and glass sculptor, shared why they support the “Friends of Glass” initiative. Harp player Maria Palatine brought glass to life playing on a glass “carillon.” More

In related news, friend of glass Lisa Barbuscia—model, actress and author of Lisa B: Lifestyle Essentials—dishes to Hello! magazine on why she “hearts” glass containers, and how choosing glass matters to the environment. Read the article

With more than 50 events in 22 states, Recycle Glass Week created awareness across the country that recycling your glass bottles and jars has powerful environmental and energy benefits. In Colorado and Indiana, it led to permanent and expanded glass recycling collection sites for high-quality cullet. And Captain Cullet and Little Gob educated thousands of elementary students about 100% recyclable glass containers.

Here are some highlights:

Anchor Collects 14 Tons of Recycled Glass Across the U.S.

Anchor Glass manufacturing plants and surrounding communities collected almost 14 tons (over 27,000 pounds) of recovered glass during Recycle Glass week. The Jacksonville, Florida plant took tops honors with 7.4 tons, and held an “Anchor Night” at Cliff's Bar & Grill to collect bottles. Henryetta, Oklahoma, came in at 6 tons. They also placed 6 recycling containers throughout the community to encourage more glass recycling. The Winchester, Indiana plant gathered nearly a ton during the week. Salem, New Jersey, collected about 400 pounds and placed glass recycling posters at 14 local retailers. Finally, in Tampa, Florida, for 30 days the SunTrust building set up a lobby display promoting glass recycling with collection bins for flint, amber, and green glass—and brought in 300 pounds.

Golden, CO Makes Drop-Off Glass Container Recycling Permanent

Rocky Mountain Bottle Company far exceeded the goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of glass, collecting 1,640 pounds during Recycle Glass Week. Because RMBC met the goal, the company will donate $1,000 to the United Way. Since the Recycle Glass Week event, RMBC has received permission to keep a permanent drop-off bin for glass container recycling at the Golden Recycling Center in Colorado, so recycled glass for bottle-to-bottle use can continue to be collected.

Elementary Students in Brockway, PA Meet the Glass Collection Challenge

The O-I Crenshaw and Brockway, Pennsylvania, facilities visited Brockway Elementary school to educate approximately 585 students on the importance of recycling glass containers. The students were challenged to collect glass throughout Recycle Glass Week, and reached 5,760 pounds. O-I partnered with Veolia Environmental Services and the Jefferson County Waste Authority to make the event a success.

Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia Collection Events Round Up More Glass

O-I employees in Lapel, Indiana brought in 1,007 pounds of glass during Recycle Glass Week. In Zanesville, Ohio, an O-I community collection event yields 850 pounds of glass for recycling. And in Atlanta, GA, Strategic Materials, Inc. partnered with O-I's local manufacturing plant to provide bins for employees to collect glass during Recycle Glass Week. At the end of the week O-I presented the city of East Point's Keep America Beautiful Organization with a $2,000 donation.

Indy Recycle Glass Week Initiative Expands New Drop-Off Site

To provide more clean, quality glass to an Indiana cullet processor, Strategic Materials, Inc., Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. and the City's Office of Sustainability began a pilot 'glass only' recycling bin effort in 2009. The first roll-off container was placed at a city park, next to the existing drop-off container for mixed recyclables. This bin's role was twofold: separate glass from the existing co-mingled program and relieve weekend overflow issues at this site.

Later this month, the second glass only container will be placed in another city park where other recyclables are now co-mingled. The glass only bins have been painted with 'glass only' messages by students from a local school as well as from a college campus interested in promoting recycling in their community.

Get a complete overview of events and photos

As part of Recycle Glass Week, GPI recognized seven “Friends of Glass” in five categories, presenting them with an award (photo below) made from 100% recycled glass bottles.

The 2009 “Friends of Glass” honorees include Earth911.com (website); the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (hospitality industry);Friends of Glass the City of Ft. Collins, Colorado Natural Resource Department (community); Representative Jay Inslee (legislator); and “Best Friends of Glass,” including Sierra Nevada Brewing Company; McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® Brand Products; and Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

“The glass container industry thanks our 2009 ‘Friends of Glass’ for their work on behalf of glass container recycling and encourages other communities and organizations to follow their lead,” says Joseph Cattaneo, GPI president. Find out more on what these “Friends of Glass” are doing to boost glass bottle recycling

As part of Recycle Glass Week, GPI recognized seven “Friends of Glass” in five categories, presenting them with an award (photo below) made from 100% recycled glass bottles.

The 2009 “Friends of Glass” honorees include Earth911.com (website); the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (hospitality industry);Friends of Glass the City of Ft. Collins, Colorado Natural Resource Department (community); Representative Jay Inslee (legislator); and “Best Friends of Glass,” including Sierra Nevada Brewing Company; McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® Brand Products; and Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

“The glass container industry thanks our 2009 ‘Friends of Glass’ for their work on behalf of glass container recycling and encourages other communities and organizations to follow their lead,” says Joseph Cattaneo, GPI president. Find out more on what these “Friends of Glass” are doing to boost glass bottle recycling

GPI’s 2009 Recycle Glass Week proved a clear success, with glass container manufacturers, including Anchor Glass, O-I, Rocky Mountain Bottle Company, and Saint-Gobain Containers, collecting glass bottles for recycling through events at their plants and in local communities. In all, over 50 educational activities and public events in 22 states were held during the week, building awareness for glass bottle recycling across the U.S.

Saint-Gobain Containers employees visited over 20 schools across the country and spoke to over 1,500 students. They provided promotional items from their educational program at local festivals, events, and businesses to reach an additional 3,000 children. Saint-Gobain Containers has a goal to reach over 10,000 students during the school year with their glass recycling awareness initiative.

Below are a few highlights from the week. A complete wrap-up of 2009 Recycle Glass Week events will be available on the GPI web site and in the October issue of Inside Glass Packaging.

New York City

In New York City, thousands attended Madison Square Park’s daytime concert series on September 19th and 26th, which had three TOMRA reverse vending machines for collecting glass and other containers as part of Recycle Glass Week. Over 500 park visitors received a “Little Bottle” sticker after recycling, and a few lucky winners received t-shirts and iPod shuffles.

Headlining musician Natalia Zuckerman wore her “Little Bottle” sticker on stage, and a park representative gave a shout-out to GPI, TOMRA, and Voss Water for sponsoring the collection event. All deposit refund monies are being donated to the Madison Square Park Conservancy.

At the Today Show, “Choose Glass. Recycle Glass.” and Recycle Glass Week banners received air time in the outdoor broadcast area—right behind Matt, Meredith, and Al. See the Today Show photo gallery. Little Bottle also made his way around famed New York City locations spreading fun, “Little Bottle” stickers, and a message to recycle glass bottles and jars. See more photos of New York City events

Indianapolis, IN

In Indianapolis, IN, GPI hosted a glass recycling tour as part of Recycle Glass Week, showcasing ten bars and restaurants that are diverting as much as ten tons a month of glass bottles for recycling. Representatives from the Indiana Recycling Coalition, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, and SustainIndy, a city agency, learned how Green Broad Ripple, a local community group organized the program.

They also saw first hand how it produces a cleaner feedstock for glass container manufacturers, compared to single-steam collection, when they toured the local Strategic Materials, Inc., cullet processing facility. SMI provides a roll-off container that is picked up twice a week to support the program. The City of Indianapolis also plans to add “glass-only” containers at two drop-off sites for residents, allowing for higher-quality glass container recycling. More on the bar/restaurant program

Winchester, IN

The Anchor Glass plant in Winchester, IN, collected one ton of recycled glass bottles through a drop-off program to raise money for the local food pantry. Anchor gave the pantry a donation equal to double the standard reimbursement rate for recycled glass during Recycle Glass Week.

Jacksonville, FL

Anchor Glass in Jacksonville, FL, collected 6.4 tons for the week at their manufacturing plant. And they still haven’t tallied what was collected at the local Cliff’s Bar and Grill.

Perrysburg, OH

To support Recycle Glass Week, O-I employees at the North American Headquarters in Perrysburg, OH, set a goal to collect one ton of glass. But employees stepped up and more than doubled their goal, collecting over 5,000 pounds for the week. O-I hopes that employees will maintain this pace in their collection efforts at the O-I campus.

Madison Square Park Concert Series
Stop by and recycle your empty glass containers, cans, and plastic bottles for a chance to receive cool prizes! GPI and TOMRA , a provider of reverse vending machines for collecting and sorting empty beverage containers for recycling, along with VOSS Water, will provide a container recycling kiosk for park visitors.

Where’s Little Bottle?
On Sunday, September 20th Little Bottle will roam NYC, stopping at celebrated landmarks. If you spot him, stop him. Little Bottle will be posing for pictures, and you could see yours on the GPI website during Recycle Glass Week!

Meet us at the Today Show
Little Bottle is hoping to make his dreams come true by meeting Al, Matt, Meredith and Ann on Monday, September 21st in the outdoor broadcast area of Rockefeller Center at the Today Show. Stop by and say “hi” and help him spread the word about the benefits of glass container recycling.

Nearly 94% of Americans know recycling is good for the environment and nearly 60% identify glass as part of sustaining a healthy lifestyle, according to a recent survey commissioned by the Glass Packaging Institute and Dr. Doyle Yoon, Professor at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications, University of Oklahoma.

Of those households that recycle, 82% recycle glass bottles. When consumers were asked which containers are most “environmentally friendly,” 22% said glass bottles and jars, while 27% answered paper containers. Fewer chose plastic bottles (8%) or bag-in-box containers (9.5%).

The survey results are being released as part of Recycle Glass Week. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.7%. Get all the results