European Glass Recycling Industry Market by Volume & Demand, Type & Applications and Countries 2024-2030

European Glass Recycling Industry Market by Volume & Demand, Type & Applications and Countries 2024-2030

Summary
The Europe Glass Recycling Industry is experiencing considerable growth, driven by environmental goals, increased glass production, and the desire for resource efficiency. Europe continues to lead this movement with advanced glass recycling infrastructures and high recycling rates. However, despite technological progress and environmental incentives, glass recycling highly depends on economic factors. The energy consumption in glass production can decrease by approximately 3% with a 10% substitution of natural raw materials by recycled glass cullet, reducing CO2 emissions. However, if the price of recycled glass outweighs the savings, the economic feasibility decreases.
The efficiency of recycling processes, particularly color separation, is crucial in determining the proportion of recycled glass that can be reused in production. Green glass has the highest potential for recycled content (up to 95%), while brown and white glass recycling rates are limited to around 70% and 60% due to strict quality standards. Europe produces around XX million tons of glass annually, with the majority in container glass, which also achieves the highest recycling rate, exceeding 90% in certain countries. Nevertheless, the overall recycling rate for glass across all types remains lower Europely, especially for flat glass and automotive glass.
Continued innovation in optical sorting technologies and stringent regulations on contamination levels (e.g., limits on ESP, metals, and other color glass content) are helping improve the quality of recycled glass. Glass recycling is currently in its fourth generation of processing technologies, incorporating advanced sorting methods that drastically reduce contamination levels.
While Europe boasts high recycling rates in countries like Sweden, Belgium, and Slovenia, regions like Turkey and Greece need better collection infrastructure and economic conditions, with rates below 50%. Industrial glass recycling, which began in the 1960s, has evolved significantly, reducing contaminants like ESP from over 500 ppm to less than 25 ppm in some cases through modern, automated processes.

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the glass recycling industry, specifically focusing on Europe, covering critical countries including Germany, France, Bulgaria, UK, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal, and Spain and highlighting its dependence on economic factors, technological advancements, and regional disparities. It also explores the environmental benefits, such as reduced resource consumption and energy savings, and market projections through 2030.
Europe’s glass recycling market is expected to grow at a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030, reaching a total market volume of XX million tons by the end of the forecast period. Increasing environmental awareness and the need to reduce landfill waste drive both production and demand for recycled glass across the continent. As the demand for recycled glass rises, public and private sector investments focus on enhancing collection, sorting, and recycling technologies.
Type of Glass Cullet:
Container Glass (bottles, jars, etc.): The largest segment, container glass recycling is anticipated to continue dominating the market, driven by consumer demand for sustainable packaging and the ease of recycling these products.
Hollow Glass (glassware, lighting): While smaller in volume, the hollow glass sector shows potential for growth due to the increasing recycling efforts within specialty glass products.
Other: This category encompasses various forms of glass, including flat glass (windows, automotive), which pose unique challenges for recycling but are gaining attention for their potential to contribute to overall sustainability goals.
Applications of Recycled Glass:
Food and Beverage Packaging: Recycled glass cullet is extensively used to manufacture new containers, significantly reducing raw material use and energy consumption.
Pharmaceutical Containers: Strict regulations in this sector demand high purity recycled glass, which continues to see growing adoption for medical packaging.
Cosmetic Containers: The luxury cosmetic sector increasingly turns to recycled glass for its aesthetic appeal and sustainability credentials.
Construction (Residential and Commercial): Crushed glass is increasingly used in the construction sector for insulation materials, decorative glass, and eco-friendly construction solutions.
Automotive Glass: Recycled flat glass is becoming more common in automotive manufacturing, particularly for windshield production and other automotive applications.
Other: Specialized uses of recycled glass, such as in abrasives, filtration, and industrial products, represent a smaller but growing market segment.
Country-Specific Insights
The recycling rates and infrastructure across Europe vary significantly by country:
Germany: Leading the European glass recycling market with an established infrastructure and high recycling rates (XX%).
France: Following closely, with robust collection systems in place and growing demand for recycled glass in packaging and construction.
UK: The recycling industry is adapting post-Brexit, with efforts to maintain sustainability targets while expanding capacity.
Poland, Slovakia, Romania: Emerging markets with significant growth potential as they modernize their recycling systems and adopt EU directives.
Belgium and the Netherlands: Leaders in innovative recycling technologies, with some of the highest glass recycling rates in the region (XX% and XX%, respectively).
Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal): Though currently lagging in terms of recycling rates, these countries are investing in infrastructure upgrades, driving expected growth in the coming years.
Technological Innovations
Technology plays a crucial role in the development of the glass recycling market, with advancements in sorting technologies, such as optical sorting and automated separation systems, significantly improving the efficiency and quality of recycled glass. Innovations in the purification of cullet are enabling a higher rate of recycled content in new glass products, meeting the demand for higher-quality end products across different sectors.
Additionally, there are emerging trends towards closed-loop recycling systems, where recycled glass is consistently used in the production of new glass products without significant degradation in quality or performance.
Environmental Impact
Glass recycling is a cornerstone of the circular economy due to its 100% recyclability without quality loss. For every ton of glass recycled, XX tons of raw materials are conserved, and XX% of energy is saved compared to producing new glass. By 2030, the European Union aims to achieve a recycling target of XX% for glass, up from current levels of XX%. This growth will not only conserve natural resources but also significantly reduce CO2 emissions, contributing to the EU’s larger climate and sustainability goals.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the glass recycling industry presents numerous opportunities, it also faces challenges such as:
Contaminated glass waste: The presence of non-glass materials in collected waste streams lowers the quality of cullet and reduces recycling efficiency.
Market imbalances: Supply of recycled glass in certain regions outpaces demand, creating logistical and economic inefficiencies.
Collection infrastructure: Many countries are still developing the necessary infrastructure to maximize glass collection, particularly in rural or less developed regions.
On the other hand, the push towards zero waste policies and extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes offers significant growth opportunities. Companies that invest in modern recycling technologies and establish partnerships with municipalities are well-positioned to capture emerging market share.
Glass recycling is the process of transforming discarded or waste glass materials into usable, high-quality products by re-melting and reforming them into new glass products. The recycled glass, commonly known as cullet, can be used to manufacture new containers, construction materials, and various other products without a significant degradation of quality.
The key feature of glass as a material is that it can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or quality, making it one of the most sustainable materials for industrial use. The recycling process saves raw materials like silica sand, limestone, and soda ash, conserves energy, and reduces CO2 emissions, thereby helping achieve circular economy goals.
History of Glass Recycling
The modern era of glass recycling began in the 1960s, largely driven by environmental concerns and the growing realization of glass’s recyclability. This period marked the beginning of industrial glass recycling programs in Europe and North America, with dedicated glass collection systems emerging.
1980s-1990s: Recycling technologies improved, leading to the development of more efficient collection, sorting, and melting processes. Separate collection systems for glass by color (white, green, brown) became more widespread, as these were essential to maintaining the purity of recycled glass.
Present Day: In the 21st century, glass recycling has become an integral part of the circular economy and environmental sustainability efforts Europely. Europe leads in glass recycling rates, with many countries recycling over 90% of container glass.
Glass Recycling Technology
Glass recycling technology has evolved significantly over the decades, with advancements in both collection and processing methods. The recycling process is typically broken down into the following stages:
a. Collection and Sorting
Glass is primarily collected from municipal waste, industrial sources, and household recycling programs. The collection can be done through:
Curbside recycling programs where consumers place glass in separate bins.
Bottle banks or recycling points, which are specific areas designated for glass deposit.
Industrial waste collection, including glass discarded during manufacturing.
Sorting is a critical part of glass recycling. Glass is usually sorted by color — clear (white), brown, and green — as this impacts the quality and type of new glass products. Clear glass requires the highest purity and thus strict color separation, while green glass can tolerate higher levels of mixed glass.
b. Cleaning and Crushing
After collection, the glass is cleaned to remove contaminants like labels, caps, plastic, ceramics, stones, and metal pieces. The cleaned glass is then crushed into smaller pieces, known as cullet. Cullet is easier to melt and forms the basis for new glass production.
c. Optical Sorting and Metal Removal
Modern glass recycling involves optical sorting technologies that use infrared light, lasers, and sensors to automatically separate the glass fragments based on their color and contamination level.
Metal separation is another key step. Magnets and eddy current separators are used to extract any remaining metal contaminants like caps and labels.
d. Melting and Reformation
Once sorted and cleaned, the cullet is sent to glass manufacturers where it is mixed with virgin raw materials (if necessary) and melted in a furnace at around 1500°C. The molten glass is then reformed into new products such as:
Containers (bottles, jars, etc.).
Building materials (fiber glass, insulation materials).
Tableware and other specialized products.
Recycling glass saves significant amounts of energy, as cullet melts at a lower temperature than raw materials. For every 10% increase in cullet use, energy consumption decreases by 3%, and CO2 emissions drop proportionally.
Technological Advancements in Glass Recycling
Modern glass recycling technology is now in its fourth generation, which includes advanced systems to improve efficiency and purity.
Optical Sorting: Innovations in optical sorting technologies have allowed recyclers to precisely remove contaminants like ceramics, lead-containing glass, and other impurities that could reduce the quality of recycled glass. This has significantly improved the recycling rate for clear and brown glass, which are more sensitive to contamination.
ESP Removal: Contaminants like Earthenware, Stones, and Porcelain (ESP) were once manually removed but now can be sorted using automated systems. This ensures higher-quality recycled glass and enables manufacturers to meet strict standards, such as those set by the Federal Association of the German Glass Industry.
Glass Drying and Contamination Reduction: Many modern plants now incorporate drying systems, which help to fully optimize the sorting process by reducing moisture content. This has helped reduce ESP levels in cullet from around 500 ppm to below 25 ppm, contributing to higher-quality end products.
Furnace Efficiency: Advanced furnace designs and the use of recycled glass have significantly improved the energy efficiency of the glass production process. By using up to 90-95% recycled cullet, particularly in the production of green glass, manufacturers can achieve energy savings of over 20% compared to traditional production methods.

This report analyzes the segments data by Type and by Application, sales, revenue, and price, from 2019 to 2030. Evaluation and forecast the market size for Glass Recycling sales, projected growth trends, production technology, application and end-user industry.

Glass Recycling segment by Company

Sibelco
Ardagh
Owens Corning
Vlakglas Recycling Nederland
AGC Glass Europe
O-I Glass
Verallia SA
Saint-Gobain
Vetropack
Reiling Group
Schirmbeck
ECOPACK Bulgaria
BA Glass (Recresco)
Glass Recycling UK
URM UK
Greenglass Recycling
Renewi (Maltha Glass Recycling)
Austria Glas Recycling
FCC ámbito (Gonzalo Mateo)
Glass Recycling segment by Type

Container Glass
Flat Glass
Hollow Glass
Other
Glass Recycling segment by Application

Food and Beverage Packaging
Pharmaceutical Containers
Cosmetic Containers
Construction (Residential and Commercial)
Automotive Glass
Other
Glass Recycling segment by Region

North America
United States
Canada
Europe
Germany
France
U.K.
Italy
Netherlands
Nordic Countries
Asia-Pacific
China
Japan
South Korea
India
Australia
China Taiwan
Southeast Asia
Latin America
Mexico
Brazil
Argentina
Colombia
Middle East & Africa
Turkey
Saudi Arabia
UAE

Study Objectives

1. To analyze and research the Europe status and future forecast, involving, production, value, consumption, growth rate (CAGR), market share, historical and forecast.
2. To present the key manufacturers, capacity, production, revenue, market share, and Recent Developments.
3. To split the breakdown data by regions, type, manufacturers, and Application.
4. To analyze the Europe and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints, and risks.
5. To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in Europe and regions.
6. To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.

Reasons to Buy This Report

1. This report will help the readers to understand the competition within the industries and strategies for the competitive environment to enhance the potential profit. The report also focuses on the competitive landscape of the Europe Glass Recycling market, and introduces in detail the market share, industry ranking, competitor ecosystem, market performance, new product development, operation situation, expansion, and acquisition. etc. of the main players, which helps the readers to identify the main competitors and deeply understand the competition pattern of the market.
2. This report will help stakeholders to understand the Europe industry status and trends of Glass Recycling and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.
3. This report will help stakeholders to understand competitors better and gain more insights to strengthen their position in their businesses. The competitive landscape section includes the market share and rank (in volume and value), competitor ecosystem, new product development, expansion, and acquisition.
4. This report stays updated with novel technology integration, features, and the latest developments in the market.
5. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into which regions to target Europely.
6. This report helps stakeholders to gain insights into the end-user perception concerning the adoption of Glass Recycling.
7. This report helps stakeholders to identify some of the key players in the market and understand their valuable contribution.

Chapter Outline

Chapter 1: Market Overview. Introduction to the glass recycling industry, including product definitions and market types, as well as assumptions and objectives for the study.
Chapter 2: Glass Recycling Market Dynamics. Analysis of trends, drivers, opportunities, and challenges shaping the glass recycling market in Europe.
Chapter 3: Europe Glass Recycling Volume Overview. Overview of the total volume of recycled glass in Europe.
Chapter 4: Europe Glass Recycling Demand Volume Overview. Analysis of demand trends for recycled glass across European markets.
Chapter 5: Market Competitive Landscape by Recycler. Competitive analysis of key players in the European glass recycling industry.
Chapter 6: Europe Glass Recycling Market by Type. Segmentation of the glass recycling market based on types like container glass, flat glass, hollow glass, etc.
Chapter 7: Europe Glass Recycling Market by Application. Breakdown of the glass recycling market based on different applications (e.g., food packaging, construction).
Chapter 8: Recycler Profiles. Detailed profiles of major recyclers operating within the European market.
Chapter 9-22: Country Segmentation. Market segmentation by country, covering Germany, France, Bulgaria, UK, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal, and Spain. Each chapter presents the market analysis specific to that country.
Chapter 23: Concluding Insights. Final conclusions and insights derived from the study.
Chapter 24: Appendix.