For Wiegand-Glas, glass recycling is not simply an environmental initiative but an established part of glass packaging production. The family-owned company has operated a closed-loop recycling system since the early 1970s, processing more than one-third of all waste glass collected annually in Germany at three recycling facilities.
Recycled glass currently accounts for an average of 77% of the material used in Wiegand-Glas’ new glass containers, compared with a national average of around 60%. For green glass, the recycled content can exceed 95%.
Glass can be recycled repeatedly without losing its quality. According to Wiegand-Glas, every additional 10 percentage points of recycled content can save 2–3% in energy consumption and reduce CO₂ emissions. At the company, the use of recycled glass contributes to approximately 215,000 tonnes of CO₂ savings each year.
However, Wiegand-Glas says the recycling loop now requires modernisation. While sorting technology has advanced significantly, logistics, collection and processing costs, as well as material quality, remain important challenges. 
Managing Director Nikolaus Wiegand stresses that maintaining the recycling loop will require closer cooperation between industry, government, associations and consumers. Efficient collection and correct sorting remain essential to keeping waste glass in circulation as a valuable secondary raw material.
Source: Wiegand-Glas with additional information added by Glass Balkan
