The traditional Czech brand Pilsner Urquell is launching a new returnable bottle, thereby strengthening its commitment to sustainability. The elegant bottle with striking embossing is produced by Vetropack Moravia Glass.

Glass is equally suitable for one-way and returnable bottles. A returnable bottle can be reused more than 40 times.

Following debate surrounding the environmental impact of packaging, the demand for returnable glass bottles is growing.

Vetropack strives to produce its packaging as ecologically as possible.

For example, the use of recycled glass and returnable containers is being systematically increased in order to conserve natural resources as much as possible.

Ardagh Group has agreed to acquire Consol Holdings, the leading producer of glass packaging on the African continent, for an equity value of ZAR10.1 billion ($635 million).

Headquartered in Johannesburg, and founded in 1946, Consol is the market leader in South Africa, operating four well-invested glass production facilities.

It serves a broad range of leading international, regional and domestic customers, principally in the beer, wine, spirits, food and non-alcoholic beverage sectors.

In the year to June 30, 2021, Consol reported consolidated revenues of ZAR9.0 billion ($566 million).

South Africa represented approximately 90% of revenues, with the balance represented by smaller production facilities in Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

Johnson Matthey has announced the sale of its Advanced Glass Technologies (AGT) business, a provider of specialist glass enamels and precious metal pastes supplied mainly to the automotive sector.

AGT will be sold to Fenzi Holdings, a manufacturer and supplier of materials for flat glass processing, for £178 million payable in cash at completion on cash free, debt free basis and subject to customary completion accounts adjustments.

The transaction is subject to works council consultation in the Netherlands and the satisfaction of customary completion conditions with completion expected in spring 2022.

In the year ended 31st March 2021, AGT generated sales excluding precious metals of £66 million, operating profit of £17 million and gross asset of £49 million.

Nippon Electric Glass has developed a new negative electrode material using a glass-ceramic for the all-solid-state Na-ion secondary battery, and became the first to successfully operate an all-oxide all-solid-state Na-ion secondary battery integrated with a glass-ceramic positive electrode and a solid electrolyte.

The proposed all-solid-state Na-ion secondary battery has an output voltage of 3 V, it possesses great application prospects and its performance is comparable to that of the existing lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.

Close the Glass Loop figures show that the EU28 average collection for recycling rate for glass packaging grew to 78% in 2019.

This represents a growth of 2% compared to 2018, which shows that the glass packaging value chain is delivering on its circular economy ambition.

The multi-stakeholder stewardship partnership Close the Glass Loop aims to achieve a post-consumer glass container collection target of 90% by 2030, and to ensure that this is recycled into the container glass production loop.

The vast majority of the 13.7 million tonnes collected go back to remelt new bottles and jars.

Ueli Utzinger has become Gerresheimer AG’s new Group Senior Director Communication & Marketing.

He succeeds Jens Kürten, who is pursuing new opportunities after 12 years of successful marketing and communication work for the company.

For the past 30 years, Mr Utzinger has developed and successfully implemented marketing and communication concepts for international industrial and pharmaceutical companies, as well as financial service providers.

In this context, he was also responsible for brand strategy, development and management for these companies.

Eviosys, Grown.Bio and Verescence have come together to innovate on a 100% recyclable and reusable cosmetic gift pack.

This collaboration is responding to a market of continued demand for customisation, as consumers look for tailored and unique products with the planet in mind.

The limited-edition gift set will include 100% infinitely recyclable and reusable glass bottles, carbon negative mushroom® packaging inserts, and a reusable 100% infinitely recyclable metal tin.

Supplying the outer metal box, Eviosys, has adapted their original product to work well with the mushroom insert and Verescence’s glass products.

Made of recycled metal it can be kept and reused for decades, it can be recycled without any loss of property.

Electricity generator EDF and environmental services group Veolia have established Waste2Glass, a 50/50 joint venture that will develop a new sector based on Veolia's Geomelt vitrification technology.

Vitrification has long been considered by international nuclear authorities as a suitable choice for high-level nuclear waste because of its durability, which is measured in hundreds of thousands of years.

GeoMelt produces an ultra-stable glass that is about ten times stronger than concrete and more durable than granite or marble.

Due to its technical nature and cost, vitrification has until now been reserved for highly radioactive waste.

Şişecam and its partner Ciner Group are expanding the scope of their cooperation and changing the structure of their partnership.

The two companies have been development joint venture partners in the Pacific natural soda ash development project since 2019.

As part of the new investment, Şişecam will become a 60% shareholder by acquiring an additional share in the Pacific Project.

In addition, Şişecam will also purchase a 60% share in the Atlantic Project and Ciner Resources, the existing natural soda ash production facility of Ciner Group in Wyoming.

The Ciner Resources Wyoming Plant has a current production capacity of ~2.5 million tonnes/year.