The European wine sector is to collaborate with the glass packaging value chain to achieve the target of collecting 90% of all glass packaging placed on the EU market, for recycling in a bottle-to-bottle closed loop, by 2030. The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) and its members are committed to improving the environmental and sustainability performance of the wine sector, while preserving its competitiveness.

Partnering with Close the Glass Loop is a signal that despite particularly challenging times due to the Covid-19 crisis, the circular economy remains a key priority for the sector.

“Wine is not an ordinary product and represents an enduring cultural symbol of fine life, in which packaging has a fundamental role” commented Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, CEEV Secretary General. “With more than 90% of European wines packed in glass, it is clear this supplying industry is an inherent part of our business model. By helping the glass packaging chain to improve their sustainability score, we directly improve ours.”

According to a recent consumer survey published by Friends of Glass, glass is the preferred packaging material for most food and beverage products, with as many as eight out of 10 Europeans preferring to buy their wine and spirits in glass.  

“The wine sector is one of our leading market segments with a constant growth recorded in the last years” Adeline Farrelly, FEVE Secretary General confirmed. “It is fundamental we can collaborate and support each other in our sustainability efforts. The Close the Glass Loop platform is one way to do this together. The more recycled glass we can put back into our production loop, the lower the environmental impact of our bottles.”

www.feve.org