Glass Packaging Can Help Prevent Food Waste

Prevent Food Waste with Glass Packaging According to research by the European Glass Packaging Manufacturers Association (FEVE), 8 out of every 10 people use products made from glass, while 7 out of 10 participants believe that recycled glass continues to protect food. Glass is seen as the best packaging material for preventing food waste and protecting the future of the planet, and 82 percent of consumers are well aware of how to recycle it. These statistics show that glass will remain the most frequently used packaging product in the future. Across Europe, glass products that can be safely recycled are considered an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. An independent consumer survey conducted by the European Glass Packaging Manufacturers Association (FEVE) for the Friends of Glass consumer platform, involving more than 4,000 consumers across 13 European countries, revealed that glass is a sustainable material for 8 out of every 10 people. Over the past three years, glass usage among participants increased by 8 percent, while preference for metal and plastic declined by between 24 and 41 percent. Meanwhile, 8 out of 10 survey respondents stated that they "always" or "frequently" recycle glass packaging, while 82 percent said they know well how to recycle it.

"Glass is the best material protecting people and the planet"

Commenting on the research results, GCA General Director Dr. Abdullah Gayret: "Consumer preference for materials that do not harm health and nature continues to rank high on shoppers' agendas. Based on the findings from the research by the European Glass Packaging Manufacturers Association, 6 out of every 10 consumers view reducing food waste, recycling, and protecting physical and mental health as the three most important sustainability factors in their daily lives. More than one-third of survey participants stated they prefer glass packaging because it better protects health and keeps products safe for longer. 7 out of every 10 Europeans believe that recycled glass will continue to protect food and beverages. For this reason, glass is viewed by consumers as the best material protecting people and the planet. Glass's durability on the shelf enables people to keep their favorite products safe for longer, thereby reducing food waste," he said.

Consumers want brands to clearly identify their sustainability efforts

Abdullah Gayret, noting that 4 out of 5 participants agreed that companies have a moral obligation regarding sustainable packaging use, stated: "Consumers want brands to clearly indicate their progress on sustainability or their identity information on their packaging. 65 percent of those who participated in this research conducted by the European Glass Packaging Manufacturers Association stated that they find a product more reliable in quality when it comes in glass packaging. These findings prove that consumers are increasingly adopting glass packaging as a healthy, widely recycled everyday packaging material. As a company that regards the environment as a precious treasure and believes it must be protected in the best way possible with the interests of humanity and all living things in mind, we are very pleased with this consumer awareness and the recognition of glass as the packaging material that will carry us into the future."

Recycling is a necessity for industrial production and efficiency

Pointing out that insufficient work has been done on glass packaging recycling in Turkey, Gayret emphasized that recycling is of great importance for industrial production and efficiency. Reminding that GCA has adopted actions such as preventing environmental pollution, reducing waste at the source, and recovering materials, Gayret stated: "Based on this scope, in cooperation with GCA, BİRCAM Foundation, and Park Cam, we have launched the EKOMAT Project with the aim of achieving 100 percent recycling of glass, plastic, and metal beverage packaging through deposit return machines. The data obtained from this pilot project we started in Yalova will shed light on systems to be established in the future, which is of great importance in terms of sustainability. This project, which we launched to raise awareness, is of great importance not only from a sustainability perspective but also from an economic one. As GCA, we are fully fulfilling our responsibilities both in preventing environmental pollution and contributing to recycling," he said.