O-I Takes on Brazil's Glass Waste Challenge

08 Dec, 2023

O-I Takes on Brazil's Glass Waste Challenge

O-I Glass, a prominent manufacturer of glass bottles, has embarked on a proactive initiative aimed at significantly enhancing the glass recycling landscape in Brazil. Their collaboration with the Recicleiros Institute, a public recycling organization, marks a strategic effort to elevate the utilization of cullet, which refers to recycled glass fragments, specifically within their glass containers.

This joint effort is designed to encompass all glass packaging processed within the Recicleiros' Cidades Programme, spanning both existing sorting facilities and those planned for future development across various regions in Brazil. The overarching objective of this partnership is ambitious: to retrieve a substantial quantity of 3,000 tonnes of glass within the inaugural year. Beyond the immediate impact on waste reduction, the initiative aims to underscore the pivotal role that glass recycling plays within the broader context of Brazil's circular economy.

Speaking on this initiative, Alexandre Macário, O-I's sustainability specialist, emphasizes the primary goal of extending glass recycling to regions where its feasibility was previously constrained. He highlights the challenge posed by long-distance logistics as a significant obstacle in increasing the recycled content of glass, indicating that addressing these logistical challenges is a key aspect of their strategy.

Moreover, O-I Glass has garnered support from Orizon, the operator of the Jaboatão dos Guararapes Ecopark in Pernambuco, recognized as the largest sorting facility in Latin America. With a network encompassing 15 Ecoparks across Brazil, Orizon plays a pivotal role in handling waste generated by over 40 million individuals across ten states in the country.

Despite gradual improvements, O-I Glass and Orizon highlight a prevailing issue: approximately 60% of glass packaging in Brazil still finds its way to landfills. This pressing concern underscores the critical need for bolstering collection and processing infrastructure to streamline and enhance glass recycling efforts. By addressing these challenges through strategic partnerships and concerted efforts, O-I Glass, Recicleiros Institute, and Orizon aim to significantly boost glass recycling rates in Brazil, contributing not only to waste reduction but also to the country's broader sustainability and circular economy goals.