O-I Glass Champions Glass4Good™ to Expand Glass Recycling and Foster Sustainable Communities
In a bid to harness the inherent value of recycled glass, O-I Glass introduces the Glass4Good™ initiative, propelling the creation of robust glass recycling ecosystems. As one of the essential ingredients for crafting new glass bottles and jars, recycled glass stands at the forefront of O-I’s sustainability endeavors. The company sets an ambitious target to make glass recycling accessible in 100 percent of the communities it serves, and the Glass4Good™ program emerges as a standout success in this mission.
Bob Hippert, Sustainability Strategy Leader at O-I, highlights the uniqueness of glass as a material – 100 percent recyclable, infinitely reusable, and capable of being melted and reshaped without compromising quality. This exceptional characteristic allows O-I to blend it with varying levels of recycled content, shaping new containers and contributing to a circular economy.
A pivotal aspect of O-I’s corporate sustainability goals involves incorporating an average of 50 percent cullet, or recycled glass, in its global packaging by 2030. However, the challenge lies in the inconsistent availability of cullet for manufacturing due to the absence of proper collection systems in some communities.
Sammy Holaschutz, Recycling Systems Development Leader at O-I, addresses this challenge by emphasizing the need to engage the ecosystem around plant communities. The Glass4Good™ program acts as a catalyst, incentivizing residents to participate in glass recycling. O-I, in turn, makes charitable donations based on the volume of glass recycled by the community. 
Elizebeth Hupp, Global Social Engagement Leader at O-I, underscores the dual impact of Glass4Good™ – giving back to communities while simultaneously increasing recycled content for O-I’s products and promoting glass recycling at a local level. In the United States, O-I has successfully implemented Glass4Good™ in four communities – Danville, Virginia, Greeley, Colorado, James City County, Virginia, and Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.
As O-I continues to pioneer sustainable practices and foster community engagement, the Glass4Good™ initiative stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to building a circular economy and creating lasting positive impacts on both local and global scales.
Source: GlassBalkan
