Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future
Glass, as a material, possesses a remarkable quality — it's 100% recyclable, and this recyclability is practically endless without any compromise in quality. In fact, a fascinating aspect of glass recycling is that approximately 80% of recycled glass finds new life in the form of fresh glass bottles and jars, often achieved within as little as 30 days.
At De Varo, not only are we a producer of glass, but we are also deeply committed to glass recycling. Our involvement in the recycling process is a testament to our dedication to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
By participating actively in glass recycling and utilizing recycled glass to craft new glass packaging, we play a pivotal role in advancing the principles of the circular economy. Every day, we contribute to reducing waste and conserving resources. Our efforts not only minimize the environmental footprint but also create a consistent and growing demand for recycled bottles.
The impact of our commitment to glass recycling extends far beyond the boundaries of our facilities. It resonates with our mission to provide sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions to our clients. It's a reflection of our unwavering commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.
At De Varo, we don't just produce glass; we actively engage in the sustainable lifecycle of this remarkable material, reinforcing our position as a responsible and forward-thinking industry leader. Join us in our journey towards a more sustainable future.
How to Recycle Glass Bottles and Jars
Producing glass bottles involves cutting-edge technology, while recycling them is incredibly straightforward. For most consumers, recycling a glass bottle is as easy as placing it in the recycling bin at home or the local drop-off point. There's no need for sorting or separating, and there's no need to worry if the bottles are broken. Once collected, the glass is transported to a nearby material recovery facility.
At these facilities, the glass is efficiently crushed and separated from other recyclables. The separated glass then undergoes a thorough cleaning process and is automatically sorted using optical technology, similar to the advanced processes utilized at DE Varo. Once cleaned and separated, the glass is ready to be transformed into new, sustainable bottles, eliminating the need for virgin raw materials. These new bottles can be recycled again when their use cycle is complete, ensuring a continuous loop of sustainability
Refillable Glass Bottles
As consumer and customer awareness regarding their environmental impact continues to grow, there is an increasing demand for refillable bottles. Refillable glass bottles (RGB) stand out as the most sustainable and cost-effective option among rigid packaging choices.
Remarkably, with as few as five refills, RGBs boast the smallest environmental footprint of all rigid packaging solutions. Throughout their lifespan, returnable and refillable glass bottles can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 66 times less per container compared to aluminum. This not only contributes to environmental preservation but also leads to substantial cost savings for customers, as the cost per filling significantly decreases over the bottle's usage cycle.
Optimizing Raw Materials
Our core objective revolves around the sustainable production of our bottles, characterized by minimized resource consumption and waste generation. At De Varo, we have a steadfast commitment to incorporating cullet, a recycled material, and continuously refining our utilization of raw materials in both the manufacturing and decoration of our bottles. This guiding principle underpins our relentless efforts to enhance the efficiency of our manufacturing processes. Simultaneously, we have embraced a circular economy policy, which facilitates the recycling and/or reuse of packaging materials.
Our resource optimization approach is universally applicable across all our raw materials and is implemented consistently across all our facilities.
The integration of cullet (recycled glass sourced from collected household glass) into the production of colored glass aligns with the European recycling target of achieving 90% by 2040. This approach is in harmony with the evolving recycling market dynamics in regions such as the United Arab Emirates and Mexico. It boasts significant ecological advantages, diminishing our reliance on natural resources, as cullet can effectively replace raw materials like sand, lime, or soda. Additionally, the use of cullet conserves energy, as it melts at a faster rate and at a lower temperature than conventional raw materials. This proves to be a cost-effective and efficient strategy for emissions reduction, all while upholding the quality standards of the glass produced.
In line with our unwavering commitment to excellence and superior quality, especially in a market where extra-white cullet is scarce, the incorporation of cullet into the production of extra-white glass ranges follows a stringent process. Given that cullet is derived from recycled materials with inherent coloration, it imparts a tint to products manufactured using it. Consequently, the suitability of this process varies depending on the desired glass color—darker shades can accommodate higher proportions of cullet, while clearer glass necessitates a more controlled approach.
Furthermore, we actively explore the use of bio-sourced, low-carbon materials as an integral part of our ongoing raw material optimization strategy. At De Varo, we favor short supply chains as part of our commitment to minimizing our environmental footprint.