Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe (AGP-Europe), part of the Ardagh Group, has announced a groundbreaking sustainability milestone: the production of the world’s first emerald green bottles using its innovative NextGen Furnace. These bottles will be exclusively supplied to Jägermeister, a long-term AGP-Europe customer for over two decades.
This partnership represents a significant step forward in decarbonizing glass packaging in the spirits industry. Building on the success of producing lower-carbon amber glass, AGP-Europe is now extending its pioneering NextGen technology to green glass. “Partnering exclusively with Jägermeister, we’re scaling innovation with impact,” said Joris Goossens, R&D Project Manager at AGP-Europe. “Our goal is to deliver the first lower-carbon emerald bottles to the market.”
Located in Obernkirchen, Germany, the NextGen Furnace began operation at the end of 2023 and utilizes an advanced hybrid design featuring 42 electrodes. This allows up to 80% of the furnace’s heat to be generated by electricity rather than traditional fossil fuels. When powered by 60% renewable electricity and using up to 70% recycled glass content, this technology has already demonstrated a 64% reduction in CO₂ emissions for amber glass.
The green glass bottles for Jägermeister will be produced under similar conditions, aiming for the same 64% reduction in carbon impact per bottle. This electricity is supplied through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Sunnic Lighthouse and ENERPARC, ensuring a solar-powered supply chain. 
“The signing of a contract for up to 14 million 70cl bottles from the NextGen Furnace in Obernkirchen is a milestone in our long-standing partnership,” said Carsten Doliwa, Vice President Procurement at Mast-Jägermeister SE.
This collaboration highlights how forward-thinking partnerships and technology can align sustainability with scale in the glass packaging industry.
Source: Ardagh Group with additional information added by Glass Balkan
