Sand used in the container glass production is abundant in nature, locally and sustainably sourced.
The industrial sand used for glass production must comply with very strict technical specifications in terms of chemical purity and dimension. This is different from low-quality sand taken from beaches or riverbanks generally used for construction which contains too many impurities.
The industrial sand is abundant in nature and it represents less than 1 percent of the 50 billion tonnes of sand extracted per year.
Its extraction is strictly regulated by EU, national and local legislation and by no means it can be the object of illicit trafficking. Extraction permits guarantee its sustainable sourcing as well as the rehabilitation of the quarries at the end of the extraction period.
The European glass industry privileges the proximity of supply to the producing plants so that long-distance transport can be avoided and environmental and cost impacts minimised.
Recycled Glass is the main raw material used by the industry. One ton of recycled glass replaces 1.2 tons of sand and other virgin raw materials.
Glass is a permanent material, endlessly recycled in a closed-loop and therefore the main resource of its own production.
Today on average, in the production batch goes 52 percent of recycled glass, avoiding the depletion of more than 7 million tons of virgin sand per year.
Technically glass bottles may be produced with up to 95 percent of recycled glass. The only limit to its use is availability and quality.
Read More on the full version of the FEVE Position Paper.